REFLECTIONS TODAY
Our First Reading is an admittance of sins committed by the whole community of Israel. Daniel makes his confession in the name of the people. The essence of this prayer is summed up in the Responsorial Psalm: “Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.”
The things we do to our neighbor, good or bad, have an effect on our entire community. Moreover, there is an interconnectedness among us and the created world. For instance, the defamation that we do to our neighbor is also a defamation of the splendor of the entire creation, even of the Creator himself.
Our connection to God the Father and the community is the reason why Jesus says that whatever measure we use in treating other people is also the measure God will use with us. God does not make an account of the sins that we commit, but the sins we commit come back to us.
This means that if we punish others, we also punish ourselves; at the same time, if we are good to others, we are also being good to ourselves. Let us let mercy and love reign in our lives and in our relationships.
First Reading • Dn 9:4b-10
“Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments! We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.
We have not obeyed your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers, and all the people of the land. Justice, O Lord, is on your side; we are shamefaced even to this day: we, the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel, near and far, in all the countries to which you have scattered them because of their treachery toward you.
O Lord, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers, for having sinned against you. But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness! Yet we rebelled against you and paid no heed to your command, O Lord, our God, to live by the law you gave us through your servants the prophets.”
Responsorial Psalm • Ps 79 “Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.”
Gospel • Luke 6:36-38
Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.