Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection September 11, 2025
Thursday – 23rd Week in Ordinary Time
11th September 2025 (Thursday)
Psalter: Week 3
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Colossians 3:12-17
Brethren: Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Psalm 150:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6 R.(6)
R/. Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. If we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Luke 6:27-38
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: “I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. “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. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Thursday – 23rd Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: In a world where we have many false models which are deviant and not worth imitable, God is the model par excellence
1. “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus”. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you”. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts”. “Above all, put on love, bearing with one another and forgiving each other”.
2. This is how the first reading, the letter to the Colossians, directs us. The call is clear to follow the teaching of Jesus, to imitate him, and to follow his footsteps. Now, what does he teach? How does he live that is to be imitated and followed?
3. First of all, he follows the example of the Father Himself. Thereby, he resembles Him and proposes the Father Himself as our greatest model. But in what and in which way does the Father become the supreme model? It is Love that manifests itself in magnanimity and mercy.
4. It is a love that is magnanimous because it loves even the enemies, blesses those who curse, prays for those who abuse, and does good to those who hate and do harm. It is a love that forgives so mercifully. It does not judge or condemn but condones generously. It is a love that is equitable toward all without any discrimination. It lets rain fall on all and sun shine on all, be it the good or the bad.
5. Jesus does not simply speak or teach about these things. He lives with them. He also summons us to follow the same. He admonishes us: “Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful”. He also challenges us to live this way, which is his way and the Father’s way also. Because this is the only way that we make a difference, a contrast to others.
6. That is why he poses the question, “If you love only those who love you, and if you do good to only those who are good to you, then what difference, what greatness is there from the non-believers?”
My Practice: The only way to show that we are followers of Christ is to follow his way, especially the way of love and mercy
