Daily Readings - Thu Sep 11 2025
Colossians
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Luke
27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.31Do to others as you would have them do to you.32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them.33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that.34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full.35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.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 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.