MONDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT - Gospel (Luke 6:36-38) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“For the measue with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (Lk 6:38)

FIRST READING - Dnl 9:4b-10

A reading from the Book of Daniel

"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."

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 6:36-38

From the Gospel according to Luke

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."

MONDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT - Gospel (Luke 6:36-38)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In the past, Jesus taught His disciples about God's perfect laws, to bring eternal life to humanity.

Today, God also teaches all His children that to have eternal life, humans must also keep God's perfect laws. God's perfect laws are the words of God taught in the Bible.

Today’s Word of God, God teaches humans that we must have compassion and mercy towards our fellow human beings and humbly recognize our weak and sinful condition before God.

God does not want humanity to only say loving words on our lips without putting them into practice. He wants all actions to come from the soul, from a loving heart towards our fellow human beings, as God has a kind, compassionate heart and is always moved with mercy towards all mankind, without distinguishing between good and bad people.

God also teaches that when faced with the mistakes and weaknesses of our fellow human beings, we should not condemn or judge, but have mercy. Pray and sacrifice ourselves as God did in the past, to help them recognize their sins and return to make peace with God. Because before God, everyone is a sinner—God always emphasizes this for everyone to remember and understand that as sinners, they do not have the right to condemn or judge other sinners. That right belongs to God alone.

Therefore, to enter the Kingdom of God, we must have compassion and a heart that is always moved with mercy towards all humankind. We must know how to share, how to give, must forgive, and humbly take the first step to make peace with those who have offended us. We must put into practice loving our fellow human beings through actions, not just words—not just standing outside condemning and judging. Also, we must not keep the law rigidly like the priests or Levites in the parable of the Good Samaritan: seeing the victim suffering and in need of mercy and help, they left the victim and went on about their own business.

God wants humankind to put compassion and a merciful heart above all things, to put love for humanity above all else. And God is very fair—He will reward those who live and act according to God’s teachings. He will not let us suffer, as the Word of God says: "For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." God wants us to live and act according to His teachings to attain the Kingdom of Heaven in the future because that is the ultimate goal of human beings.

Today, God reminds all the shepherds in the Church and all His children to put into practice the teaching of God accordingly. Do not just speak it with our lips without putting it into practice, because empty words are just empty words. Practice our words of love by going to others, reconciling with God, and obeying God in all things.

Thanks be to God. Amen.