Daily Readings - Thu Sep 11 2025
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 presented with profound teachings on how to live out our faith with love, mercy, and humility. The first reading from Colossians reminds us that as followers of Christ, we are called to “clothe” ourselves with virtues such as kindness, patience, and forgiveness. These are not just abstract ideals but concrete ways of living that reflect the love of God. The reading emphasizes the importance of unity and harmony within the community, urging us to let the peace of Christ rule our hearts and to be thankful for all that God has given us.
The Gospel from Luke challenges us even further. Jesus calls us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, and to lend without expecting anything in return. This is not a call to passivity but to radical, selfless love that mirrors the mercy of God. Jesus reminds us that if we only love those who love us, we are no different from others. True greatness comes from loving those who may not deserve it, just as God loves us even when we are ungrateful. The Golden Rule—“Do to others as you would have them do to you”—is not just a moral guideline but a reflection of God’s own way of being.
These readings are deeply connected. Both emphasize the transformative power of love and mercy. In Colossians, we see how these virtues build up the community, while in Luke, we are challenged to extend them even to those outside our circle. Together, they call us to live in a way that reflects the heart of God. In our daily lives, this means choosing to forgive when we feel wronged, showing kindness to those who may not deserve it, and trusting that our efforts to love will bear fruit. As we strive to live this way, we become more like Christ, and our actions become a testament to the boundless mercy of the Father. Let us ask for the grace to love as God loves, without condition or expectation of return, and to trust that this way of living will lead us to true greatness in His eyes.