Daily Readings - Mon Feb 26 2024
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 powerful messages about mercy, repentance, and the call to live as children of a merciful God. The first reading from Daniel is a heartfelt prayer of confession and repentance. Daniel humbly acknowledges the sins of his people, recognizing that their suffering in exile is a result of their disobedience. Yet, amidst this acknowledgment of guilt, Daniel appeals to God’s mercy and faithfulness, trusting in His covenant love. This prayer reminds us that true repentance involves both acknowledging our failures and trusting in God’s steadfast love.
The Gospel from Luke complements this theme as Jesus teaches us about the importance of living out God’s mercy in our relationships with others. He calls us to avoid judgment and condemnation, instead embracing forgiveness and generosity. Jesus emphasizes that the measure we use to treat others will be the measure used to treat us. This teaching challenges us to reflect on how we interact with those around us—do we show mercy and kindness, or do we judge and withhold forgiveness? Jesus’ words remind us that living as disciples means mirroring the mercy and compassion of our heavenly Father.
These readings invite us to examine our lives and relationships. Like Daniel, we must humbly acknowledge our own sins and shortcomings, trusting in God’s mercy. At the same time, like Jesus teaches, we are called to extend that same mercy to others. In a world often marked by division and judgment, we are reminded that mercy and forgiveness are transformative forces. Let us strive to live as people of mercy, both in our relationship with God and in our interactions with others. By doing so, we not only experience God’s grace but also become instruments of His grace in the lives of those around us.