Daily Readings - Thu Sep 11 2025
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 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.