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
Do not treat us according to our sins, O Lord.
Do not hold the guilt of our fathers against us.
Let your compassion hasten to meet us;
we are left in the depths of distress.
O God our saviour, come to our help.
Come for the sake of the glory of your name.
O Lord our God, forgive us our sins;
rescue us for the sake of your name.
Let the groans of the prisoners come before you;
let your strong arm reprieve those condemned to die.
But we, your people, the flock of your pasture,
will give you thanks for ever and ever.
We will tell your praise from age to age.
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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There is greater joy in giving than in receiving
God is the giver of life, peace, joy, pardon, etc. He rejoices when we receive His gifts. His ultimate gift to us is Jesus, His Son. He is the source we can go to in order to be filled with what we lack. Jesus, in the gospel, encourages us to experience the joy of giving and sharing His love with others by forgiving someone, giving an encouraging word to someone struggling with sadness, visiting a lonely person, catching up with a friend who needs to be listened to, etc.
‘Give and there will be gifts for you.’ When we give of ourselves for the sake of others, we will receive an abundance of joy and peace from God. If we close our hearts to those around us, we will also be close to receiving the compassion, joy, and peace that God wants to give us. Let us be open to give and receive so that we may fully experience God’s gifts.
Reflective question:
Have I experienced the joy of giving?
Have I experienced the joy of giving?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
