Daily Readings - Thu Sep 09 2021
Colossians
12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.17And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Luke
27But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,28Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.29And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.30Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.32For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.33And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.34And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.37Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
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.