First reading: Dn 9: 4b-10
I prayed to Yahweh, my God, and made this confession: “Lord God, great and to be feared, you keep your Covenant and love for those who love you and observe your commandments. We have sinned; we have not been just; we have been rebels, and have turned away from your commandments and laws. We have not listened to your servants, the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, leaders, fathers and to all the people of the land.
Lord, justice is yours; but ours is a face full of shame, as it is to this day— we, the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the whole of Israel, near and far away, in all the lands where you have dispersed us because of the infidelity we have committed against you. Ours is the shame, O Lord, for we, our kings, princes and fathers, have sinned against you. We hope for pardon and mercy from the Lord, our God, because we have rebelled against him. We have not listened to the voice of Yahweh, our God, or followed the laws, which he has given us through his servants, the prophets.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 79: 8. 9. 11 and 13
Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Gospel Reading: Lk 6: 36-38
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Don’t be a judge of others and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you, and you will receive in your sack good measure, pressed down, full and running over. For the measure you give will be the measure you receive back.”
Reflection:
On another part of the gospel, it says “be perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect.” Many might ask, how does one become perfect? This gospel answers this question. To become perfect like our Heavenly Father, we must be merciful as the Heavenly Father is merciful. The perfection of a Christian is seen in how one is merciful. Pope Francis also teaches us that the name of God is mercy. By virtue of baptism, the Christian, as children of God the Father in Jesus, emanates this mercy in deeds and words. In the end, accounting in heaven is based on loving mercy.
