Daily Readings - Thu Sep 09 2021
Colossians
12Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Luke
27"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.29To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.30Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.31And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.32"If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.34And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.36Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.37"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;38give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."
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.