THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Thursday of 23^rd week in ordinary time, 2021

Col 3: 12-17
Ps 150
Luke 6: 27-38

Merciful like the Father

Today’s first reading (Colossians 3:12-17) calls us to, “Put on as God’s chosen ones… compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another, and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you,, so you also must forgive.”

In the Gospel (Luke 6:27-38), Jesus invites his listeners, “I say to you … Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”  These words echo in the action of Jesus on the Cross as he prayed, “Forgive them Father…” It’s heard again at the stoning of St. Stephen while Saul looked on. Jesus again says, “Love your enemies and do good, and lend expecting nothing in return…” He crowns it by asking them, “Be merciful as your Father is merciful.” 

During the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis invited us to celebrate in these words, “….In mercy, we find proof of how God loves us. He gives his entire self, always, freely, asking nothing in return….Let us open our eyes and see the misery in the world, the wounds of our brothers and sisters who are denied their dignity, and let us realise that we are compelled  to heed their cry for help!” (MV 14-15)

In those words, we find echoes of the opening words of one of the documents of Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes which says, “The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these too are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts.”(GS 1) Being merciful brings rewards from God, “Judge not and you will not be judged; condemn not and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you…” What are you waiting for?

Let us pray: Lord, you are always merciful, give me the grace to be merciful unto others. Amen. 

+Remain blessed