First reading Daniel 9:4-10
Yours is the integrity, Lord; ours the shame
O Lord, God great and to be feared, you keep the covenant and have kindness for those who love you and keep your commandments: we have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly, we have betrayed your commandments and your ordinances and turned away from them. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. Integrity, Lord, is yours; ours the look of shame we wear today, we, the people of Judah, the citizens of Jerusalem, the whole of Israel, near and far away, in every country to which you have dispersed us because of the treason we have committed against you. To us, Lord, the look of shame belongs, to our kings, our princes, our ancestors, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God mercy and pardon belong, because we have betrayed him, and have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God nor followed the laws he has given us through his servants the prophets.
Responsorial Psalm 78(79):8-9,11,13
Gospel Luke 6:36-38
Grant pardon, and you will be pardoned
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’
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Compassionate love
In our lives, we often find ourselves in the position to judge or condemn others, using harsh words or actions without fully recognising the implications. Yet, if we expect to receive forgiveness and understanding for our own shortcomings, we must first strive to embody the same compassion that our Father exemplifies. Without embracing compassion, our ability to love becomes limited, clouded by judgment and misunderstanding.
At the heart of Jesus’ compassionate nature is His deep openness to receiving the Father’s love. This profound connection allows Him to extend love to everyone He encounters. Today, we are invited to cultivate that same dependence on God our Father as our ultimate source of love. God is always eager to fill our hearts with the strength we need to be truly loving and compassionate. From having His love in us, we are then empowered to extend that same compassion to others. This creates a ripple effect, spreading kindness and understanding in a world that desperately needs it.
Reflective question:
How can I reflect Christ’s heart to the people around me today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
