Daily Readings - Mon Mar 01 2021
Daniel
3So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.4I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands,5we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.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.7"Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame-the men of Judah and people of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you.8O LORD, we and our kings, our princes and our fathers are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.9The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;10we have not obeyed the LORD our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.
Luke
36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.37"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on mercy, repentance, and the call to live as followers of God. The first reading from Daniel is a heartfelt prayer of confession and repentance. Daniel acknowledges the sins of his people, humbly admitting their failure to follow God’s commandments and their rejection of the prophets’ warnings. He pleads for mercy, recognizing that justice belongs to God while shame and confusion belong to those who have sinned. This prayer is set in the context of the Babylonian exile, a time when Israel was forced to confront the consequences of their infidelity to the covenant. Daniel’s words remind us that true repentance involves acknowledging our sins, taking responsibility, and trusting in God’s mercy.
The Gospel reading from Luke offers a complementary message. Jesus teaches His disciples to “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” He emphasizes the importance of not judging or condemning others, and instead forgiving generously. This teaching is rooted in the Golden Rule: the measure we use to measure others will be the measure used for us. Jesus calls His followers to live out the mercy and compassion they have received from God. This passage challenges us to reflect on how we treat others—whether we extend kindness, forgiveness, and understanding, or whether we hold grudges, judge harshly, or withhold love.
These readings remind us that mercy and repentance are deeply intertwined. Daniel’s prayer shows us that acknowledging our sin and seeking forgiveness is the first step toward healing and renewal. Jesus’ teaching in Luke calls us to extend that same mercy to others. In our daily lives, we are invited to reflect on how we live out these values. Do we approach others with compassion and understanding, or do we let judgment and criticism guide our actions? Let us ask for the grace to see ourselves and others through the lens of God’s mercy, and to live in a way that reflects the love and forgiveness we have received.