We must acknowledge we have sinned before our merciful and ever loving Lord so that we can live free and fully in His love. For sin, guilt and shame only weighs us down.
So when was the last time you had gone for the sacrament of reconciliation my dear sisters and brothers in Christ?
We must rightfully ask one another this question so as to encourage one another to go and be made right before the Lord our God! For loving one another also means asking such difficult questions of one another. And if we ourselves are asked this then we should not take offence for it is fraternal love that begs the question. How else can we hope to be compassionate as our Heavenly Father is compassionate?
For many of our sins stems from us NOT being compassionate with one another especially those outside of our inner circles! We expect mercy but are far from merciful ourselves! Lord Jesus have mercy on us and teach us how to be merciful and loving like You.
Father, let me call Thee Father, ‘Tis Thy child returns to Thee. Amen
First reading
Daniel 9:4-10
Yours is the integrity, Lord; ours the shame
O Lord, God great and to be feared, you keep the covenant and have kindness for those who love you and keep your commandments: we have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly, we have betrayed your commandments and your ordinances and turned away from them. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. Integrity, Lord, is yours; ours the look of shame we wear today, we, the people of Judah, the citizens of Jerusalem, the whole of Israel, near and far away, in every country to which you have dispersed us because of the treason we have committed against you. To us, Lord, the look of shame belongs, to our kings, our princes, our ancestors, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God mercy and pardon belong, because we have betrayed him, and have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God nor followed the laws he has given us through his servants the prophets.
Gospel
Luke 6:36-38
Grant pardon, and you will be pardoned
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’
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