Daily Readings - Thu Sep 09 2021
Colossians
12Therefore, clothe yourselves like the elect of God: holy and beloved, with hearts of mercy, kindness, humility, modesty, and patience13Support one another, and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive one another. For just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also must you do14And above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection15And let the peace of Christ lift up your hearts. For in this peace, you have been called, as one body. And be thankful16Let the word of Christ live in you in abundance, with all wisdom, teaching and correcting one another, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing to God with the grace in your hearts17Let everything whatsoever that you do, whether in word or in deed, be done all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him
Luke
27But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you28Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who slander you29And to him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your coat, do not withhold even your tunic30But distribute to all who ask of you. And do not ask again of him who takes away what is yours31And exactly as you would want people to treat you, treat them also the same32And if you love those who love you, what credit is due to you? For even sinners love those who love them33And if you will do good to those who do good to you, what credit is due to you? Indeed, even sinners behave this way34And if you will loan to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is due to you? For even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive the same in return35So truly, love your enemies. Do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return. And then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and to the wicked36Therefore, be merciful, just as your Father is also merciful37Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven38Give, and it will be given to you: a good measure, pressed down and shaken together and overflowing, they will place upon your lap. Certainly, the same measure that you use to measure out, will be used to measure back to you again.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the transformative power of love and mercy in our lives. The first reading from Colossians encourages us to embrace virtues such as mercy, kindness, and patience, and to let the peace of Christ rule our hearts. This passage, written by St. Paul to the Colossian church, reminds us that our new life in Christ calls us to live in a way that reflects His love and gratitude. The second reading from Luke's Gospel takes this a step further, as Jesus challenges us to love not just our friends but also our enemies, to bless those who curse us, and to pray for those who slander us. This teaching, part of the Sermon on the Plain, emphasizes the radical nature of God's love and the call to live out the values of the Kingdom of God in our daily lives.
At first glance, these readings may seem daunting. How can we possibly love those who hate us or bless those who curse us? Yet, when we look deeper, we see that both readings are connected by a common theme: the call to live as children of the Most High. In Colossians, we are reminded that we are the "elect of God, holy and beloved," and that our actions should reflect this identity. In Luke, Jesus teaches us that our love for others, even those who wrong us, is not just a feeling but a choice—a choice that reflects the merciful heart of our Father. By choosing to love, forgive, and show mercy, we become like God, who is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
So how do we apply this in our daily lives? Let us start by examining our interactions with others. When someone wrongs us, do we respond with anger or with mercy? When we feel the urge to judge or condemn, do we instead choose to forgive? These are not easy tasks, but they are at the heart of what it means to follow Christ. As we strive to live out these teachings, we come to realize that love and mercy are not just feelings but actions. By choosing to love our enemies, to give generously, and to forgive freely, we not only reflect the heart of God but also create a world where His peace and love can flourish. Let us pray for the grace to live out these teachings, that we might truly be sons and daughters of the Most High, and that our lives might bear witness to the transformative power of God's love.