St. Peter Claver, priest 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊   

Colossians 3:12-17

Clothe yourselves,

Then, as is fitting for God’s chosen people, holy and beloved of him. Put on compassion, kindness, humility, meek­ness and patience  to bear with one another and forgive whenever there is any occasion to do so. As the Lord has forgiven you, forgive one an­other.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  May the peace of Christ overflow in your hearts; for this end you were called to be one body. And be thankful.

Let the word of God dwell in you in all its richness. Teach and admonish one another with words of wisdom. With thankful hearts sing to God psalms, hymns and spontaneous praise.  And whatever you do or say, do it in the Name of Jesus, the Lord, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

Ps 150:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6

Let everything that breathe praise the Lord!

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 6:27-38

 But I say to you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.  Bless those who curse you and pray for those who treat you badly.   To the one who strikes you on the cheek, turn the other cheek; from the one who takes your coat, do not keep back your shirt.  Give to the one who asks and if anyone has taken something from you, do not demand it back.

 Do to others as you would have others do to you. If you love only those who love you, what kind of graciousness is yours? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do favors to those who are good to you, what kind of graciousness is yours?

Even sinners do the same. If you lend only when you expect to receive, what kind of graciousness is yours? For sinners also lend to sinners, expecting to receive something in return.

 But love your enemies and do good to them, and lend when there is nothing to expect in return. Then will your reward be great and you will be sons and daughters of the Most High. For he is kind towards the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

 Don’t be a judge of others and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you, and you will receive in your sack good measure, pressed down, full and running over. For the measure you give will be the measure you receive back.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

The gospel today teaches us how to live a Christian Life. It says that love should be the overriding concern of the followers of Jesus. This calls for a life lived extraordinarily. But what Jesus wants goes against the normal human instinct of people.

It is a purification of self-centeredness. It is an expansion of awareness that includes the other, extending even to include enemies. And so, to live the life of a Christian is a tough choice. It is to embrace the counter instinctual life that Jesus proposes.

This fact is sometimes lost on many of us who are born and raised in the Christian faith. Our understanding of its attendant obligations is superficial. We grow up with what is already in us, but we are not asked to render an account of our responsibility.

That is why this gospel refreshes us on what should be our stance in life. The true follower of Jesus is a slave of love.