Daily Readings - Thu Sep 11 2025
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 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.