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.
Do not treat us according to our sins, O Lord.
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.
Do not treat us according to our sins, O Lord.
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.
Do not treat us according to our sins, O Lord.
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 like the Father
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on the faithful. For He knows how we are formed, remembers that we are dust” (Ps 103:13-14). The psalmist shows us that God’s compassion is born out of a heart that looks at us and remembers who we are – limited human beings. In front of our fragility, the Father’s heart is moved to provide mercy and understanding instead of condemning judgment. In today’s gospel, Jesus calls us to emulate the Father. He teaches us to have a heart that looks at others kindly in their weaknesses as God does. We are called to remember that they, too, like us, are not perfect.
In prayer, we recall how God has been compassionate to us through His Word and His continued self-giving in the Eucharist. At other times, we experience God’s compassion through someone who has been patient, kind, accepting, and forgiving toward us. Remembering the gift of compassion we have received in life, with gratitude, let us be moved to show the same compassionate love toward others we meet along life’s journey.
Reflective question:
Concretely, how can I show compassion to others?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
