FIRST READING
Daniel 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
Psalm 79:8, 9, 11 and 13
R. (see 103:10a) Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may your compassion quickly come to us, for we are brought very low.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Help us, O God our savior, because of the glory of your name; Deliver us and pardon our sins for your name’s sake.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you; with your great power free those doomed to death. Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; through all generations we will declare your praise.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL
See John 6:63c, 68c
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.
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.”
REFLECTIONS:
ASHAMED OF NOTHING BUT JESUS?
"We are shamefaced." Daniel 9:7
I recently met a woman who had returned to the U.S.A. after serving twenty years as a foreign missionary. She was utterly shocked by the changes in American culture during her absence. Topics never mentioned in decent conversation were now flaunted publicly from billboards, movies, and prime-time TV. Political candidates who would never have been considered worthy of nomination when she left were now routinely being elected. She was dumbfounded at the absence of the sense of sin and shame.
Daniel was a holy and righteous Jew, blamelessly observing the ordinances of the Lord (Dn 1:8; 6:11). Yet his Jewish people had been exiled "because of their treachery" toward God (Dn 9:7). Daniel humbly recognized his part, however small, in the sins of his nation, and was ashamed (Dn 9:7, 8) of the sins his nation and people had committed against the Lord.
Too many people today are ashamed of nothing but Jesus (Mk 8:38) and His gospel (Rm 1:16). Jesus bluntly declares: "If anyone in this faithless and corrupt age is ashamed of Me and My doctrine, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes with the holy angels in His Father's glory" (Mk 8:38).
Repent! Be ashamed of sin and wickedness. Repent of being ashamed of Jesus. Like Daniel, pray for forgiveness for yourself, your nation, and your people.
Prayer: Father, I will look to You so that I will not be shamefaced but rather radiant with joy (Ps 34:6). Promise: "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Pardon, and you shall be pardoned." Lk 6:37 Praise: Dan harbored resentment for many years against his stern, unloving father. Jesus softened both their hearts and now they are close. (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
(For a related teaching, order our tape on Forgiveness on audio AV 54-1 or video V-54.)
Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant my permission to publish One Bread, One Body covering the period from February 1, 2013 through March 31, 2013.
Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, September 13, 2012.
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements
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