Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 17, 2025
First Reading: Daniel 9.3, 4b-10
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.
Psalm 79
1O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.2They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.3They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.4We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us.5How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?6Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name!7For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation.8Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.9Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!10Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes!11Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!12Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!13But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
Gospel: Luke 6.36-38
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 relationship between God’s justice and our humanity. The first reading from Daniel is a heartfelt prayer of confession and repentance. Daniel humbly acknowledges the sins of his people, taking responsibility for their failures and pleading for God’s mercy. He recognizes that while justice belongs to God, confusion and shame belong to those who have turned away from His commandments. This prayer is set against the backdrop of the Babylonian exile, a time when Israel was suffering the consequences of its infidelity. Yet even in exile, Daniel’s prayer expresses hope, trusting in God’s mercy and covenant faithfulness.
The Gospel reading from Luke offers a complementary message. Jesus teaches His disciples about the importance of living out God’s mercy in their daily lives. He instructs them not to judge or condemn others, but instead to forgive and give generously. Jesus emphasizes that the measure we use to judge others will be the same measure used to judge us. This teaching challenges us to reflect on how we treat one another and to imitate the merciful love of our Heavenly Father. Like Daniel, Jesus calls us to humility and compassion, reminding us that our relationship with God is deeply connected to our relationships with others.
These readings invite us to examine our lives and to approach God and others with humility and mercy. Like Daniel, we must acknowledge our sins and seek forgiveness, trusting in God’s mercy. Like Jesus, we must extend that mercy to others, avoiding judgment and instead offering forgiveness and kindness. In a world often marked by division and harshness, these readings remind us that true greatness lies in humility, compassion, and the courage to seek and offer mercy. May we strive to live out this wisdom in our daily lives, creating a world where God’s mercy and love shine through us.