26 February, 2024 | Monday of the Second Week in Lent

 Reading : Dn 9:4b-10

Gospel Lk 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."

Reflection: 

“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful”. Through this Jesus is asking us to become God-like. Jesus revealed the compassion and mercy of God most fully. In a sense, in calling us to be God-like, Jesus is calling on us to become Jesus-like. As a followers of Christ it is our fundamental baptismal calling to live and be like Christ. The call may be demanding, but in the gospel Jesus highlights the blessings that come to us when we live out that calling. If we give in the way God gives, in the way Jesus gives, compassionately and mercifully, there will be gifts for us, ‘a full measure… will be poured into our lap’. People often search for this full measure, what might be termed fulfilment. Jesus declares that it is not those who seek this full measure directly who find it, rather, it comes to those who seek something else. It is those who seek to give generously of themselves, in the way God has given to us, who will find this full measure.

Activity:

Mercy is an extension and expression of love, an act of kindness. Let us today spend our day meaningfully by being merciful and kind towards our own family members, our siblings, and those around us.