Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 23, 2025
First Reading: 1 Samuel 26.2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-25
2And Saul rose up, and he descended into the desert of Ziph, and with him three thousand elect men of Israel, so that he might seek David in the desert of Ziph7Therefore, David and Abishai went to the people by night, and they found Saul lying down and sleeping in the tent, with his spear fixed in the ground at his head. And Abner and the people were sleeping all around him8And Abishai said to David: "God has enclosed your enemy this day in your hands. Now therefore, I will pierce him with my lance, through to the ground, once, and there will not need to be a second.9And David said to Abishai: "You shall not kill him. For who may extend his hand against the Christ of the Lord, and yet be innocent?12And so, David took the spear, and the cup of water that was at Saul’s head, and they went away. And there was no one who saw it, or realized it, or awakened, but they were all sleeping. For a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen over them13And when David had crossed over to the opposite side, and had stood upon the top of the hill far away, so that there was a great interval between them22And responding, David said: "Behold, the king’s spear. Let one of the servants of the king cross over and take it23And the Lord will repay each one according to his justice and faith. For the Lord has delivered you this day into my hand, but I was not willing to extend my hand against the Christ of the Lord24And just as your soul has been magnified this day in my eyes, so let my soul be magnified in the eyes of the Lord, and may he free me from all distress.25Then Saul said to David: "You are blessed, my son David. And whatever you may do, it shall certainly succeed." And David departed on his way. And Saul returned to his place
Psalm 103
1To David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and bless his holy name, all that is within me2Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his recompenses3He forgives all your iniquities. He heals all your infirmities4He redeems your life from destruction. He crowns you with mercy and compassion5He satisfies your desire with good things. Your youth will be renewed like that of the eagle6The Lord accomplishes mercies, and his judgment is for all who patiently endure injuries7He has made his ways known to Moses, his will to the sons of Israel8The Lord is compassionate and merciful, patient and full of mercy9He will not be angry forever, and he will not threaten for eternity10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, and he has not repaid us according to our iniquities11For according to the height of the heavens above the earth, so has he reinforced his mercy toward those who fear him12As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our iniquities from us13As a father is compassionate to his sons, so has the Lord been compassionate to those who fear him14For he knows our form. He has called to mind that we are dust15Man: his days are like hay. Like the flower of the field, so will he flourish16For the spirit in him will pass away, and it will not remain, and he will know his place no longer17But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity, and even unto eternity, upon those who fear him. And his justice is with the sons of the sons18with those who serve his covenant and have been mindful of his commandments by doing them19The Lord has prepared his throne in heaven, and his kingdom will rule over all20Bless the Lord, all you his Angels: powerful in virtue, doing his word, in order to heed the voice of his discourse21Bless the Lord, all his hosts: his ministers who do his will22Bless the Lord, all his works: in every place of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15.45-49
45Just as it was written that the first man, Adam, was made with a living soul, so shall the last Adam be made with a spirit brought back to life46So what is, at first, not spiritual, but animal, next becomes spiritual47The first man, being earthly, was of the earth; the second man, being heavenly, will be of heaven48Such things as are like the earth are earthly; and such things as are like the heavens are heavenly49And so, just as we have carried the image of what is earthly, let us also carry the image of what is heavenly
Gospel: Luke 6.27-38
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 encounter powerful lessons on mercy, trust in God, and living a life guided by the Spirit. The first reading from 1 Samuel tells the story of David sparing King Saul's life, despite having the opportunity to kill him. This act of mercy is significant because David recognizes Saul as the Lord's anointed, choosing to trust in God's plan rather than taking matters into his own hands. This teaches us the value of patience and faith, even in the face of adversity.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians contrasts the first Adam with the second Adam, Jesus Christ. Paul explains that while the first Adam brought death, the second Adam brings life through the Spirit. This theological reflection invites us to consider our own identity and purpose. We are called to live not as earthly beings but as spiritual ones, carrying the image of heaven. This means embracing a life of grace and mercy, just as Christ has shown us.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus' teachings on love and mercy. Jesus challenges us to go beyond conventional wisdom by loving our enemies, being generous, and avoiding judgment. He emphasizes that our actions should be motivated by a desire to reflect God's mercy. This teaching is both radical and transformative, urging us to step out of our comfort zones and embrace a life of selfless love.
These readings are interconnected through the theme of mercy and trust in God. David's mercy towards Saul, Paul's contrast between Adam and Christ, and Jesus' teachings all point to the importance of living a life that reflects God's love and mercy. In our daily lives, we are called to trust in God's plan, even when it is challenging, and to extend mercy and kindness to others, even when they may not deserve it. By doing so, we become true children of God, living as He has taught us.
The moral lesson here is clear: our actions should be guided by love, mercy, and trust in God. Just as David trusted God's plan, and just as Christ showed us the way of love, we too can live lives that reflect these values. Let us strive to be instruments of God's mercy in the world, trusting that He will guide us and provide for us. In doing so, we not only follow His will but also become beacons of hope and love to those around us.