Daily Readings - Mon Feb 26 2024
Daniel
3Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.4I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,5we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.6We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.7To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you.8To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.9To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him10and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
Luke
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 encounter powerful messages about mercy, repentance, and the call to live as children of a merciful God. The first reading from Daniel is a heartfelt prayer of confession and repentance. Daniel humbly acknowledges the sins of his people, recognizing that their suffering in exile is a result of their disobedience. Yet, amidst this acknowledgment of guilt, Daniel appeals to God’s mercy and faithfulness, trusting in His covenant love. This prayer reminds us that true repentance involves both acknowledging our failures and trusting in God’s steadfast love.
The Gospel from Luke complements this theme as Jesus teaches us about the importance of living out God’s mercy in our relationships with others. He calls us to avoid judgment and condemnation, instead embracing forgiveness and generosity. Jesus emphasizes that the measure we use to treat others will be the measure used to treat us. This teaching challenges us to reflect on how we interact with those around us—do we show mercy and kindness, or do we judge and withhold forgiveness? Jesus’ words remind us that living as disciples means mirroring the mercy and compassion of our heavenly Father.
These readings invite us to examine our lives and relationships. Like Daniel, we must humbly acknowledge our own sins and shortcomings, trusting in God’s mercy. At the same time, like Jesus teaches, we are called to extend that same mercy to others. In a world often marked by division and judgment, we are reminded that mercy and forgiveness are transformative forces. Let us strive to live as people of mercy, both in our relationship with God and in our interactions with others. By doing so, we not only experience God’s grace but also become instruments of His grace in the lives of those around us.