SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 6:17. 20-26) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.” (Lk 6:36)

FIRST READING - 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23

First reading from the Letter of Samuel

In those days, Saul went down to the desert of Ziph

with three thousand picked men of Israel,

to search for David in the desert of Ziph.

So David and Abishai went among Saul’s soldiers by night

and found Saul lying asleep within the barricade,

with his spear thrust into the ground at his head

and Abner and his men sleeping around him.

Abishai whispered to David:

“God has delivered your enemy into your grasp this day.

Let me nail him to the ground with one thrust of the spear;

I will not need a second thrust!”

But David said to Abishai, “Do not harm him,

for who can lay hands on the LORD’s anointed and remain unpunished?”

So David took the spear and the water jug from their place at Saul’s head,

and they got away without anyone’s seeing or knowing or awakening.

All remained asleep,

because the LORD had put them into a deep slumber.

Going across to an opposite slope,

David stood on a remote hilltop

at a great distance from Abner, son of Ner, and the troops.

He said: “Here is the king’s spear.

Let an attendant come over to get it.

The LORD will reward each man for his justice and faithfulness.

Today, though the LORD delivered you into my grasp,

I would not harm the LORD’s anointed.”

SECOND READING from the Letter of St. Peter to the Corinthians: 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

Brothers and sisters:

It is written, The first man, Adam, became a living being,

the last Adam a life-giving spirit.

But the spiritual was not first;

rather the natural and then the spiritual.

The first man was from the earth, earthly;

the second man, from heaven.

As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly,

and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly.

Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one,

we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Luke 6:27-38

From the Gospel according to Luke

Jesus said to his disciples:

“To you who hear I say,

love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

To the person who strikes you on one cheek,

offer the other one as well,

and from the person who takes your cloak,

do not withhold even your tunic.

Give to everyone who asks of you,

and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

For if you love those who love you,

what credit is that to you?

Even sinners love those who love them.

And if you do good to those who do good to you,

what credit is that to you?

Even sinners do the same.

If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,

what credit is that to you?

Even sinners lend to sinners,

and get back the same amount.

But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,

and lend expecting nothing back;

then your reward will be great

and you will be children of the Most High,

for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

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.”

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 6:17. 20-26)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In God's Word for today, God the Father invites all humanity to turn to the infinite mercy of God the Father. There is no god, no creature, that brings unconditional love like God the Father.

Humanity, please wake up and open your hearts to receive grace and light from God. Do not sit still and curse the darkness of sin, nor remain in sadness, sorrow, and suffering! Instead, stand up and courageously step into the light, with the source of God's grace, and heed His invitation: open your heart to love and forgive, to be kind, to do good, to give, to be gentle, to be sincere with God the Father and others, to be sincere with all creatures, with a loving heart, and with a simple, joyful, happy, blissful, and peaceful soul. God the Father has given His law of love to all creatures in this world and this universe, without excluding any creature, even Satan. God also invites us to repent and return to God. Do not go against His commandments any longer, do not live in hatred, suffering, sadness, or killing. Do not fight for power and position, do not seek honor or lift yourself up. Do not compete, be jealous, selfish, hateful, or divide each other. Always seek harmony, peace, and happiness with God the Father and your brothers and sisters. Do not exclude one another, for all are children of God the Father. The image of God the Father is hidden within the soul, in the nature of every creature He created.

The Word of God in today's first reading speaks of a sentiment: Because of the fear of God, King David loved even his enemy, King Saul, and his army. Although he had the opportunity, David did not kill the king but forgave him generously. This is an example of fearing God and loving others as oneself.

Next, the Word of God today teaches us to love and forgive those who persecute and harm us, to give, to do good, and to be generous. Do everything that God the Father desires, with gratitude and forgiveness; be merciful as God the Father is merciful. Do not be jealous, do not judge, and do not condemn, for all people are sinners before God the Father and others. No one is pure before Him! Therefore, each person should beat their chest and repent of their sins. Do not condemn, do not blame, do not be angry, do not shout, insult, or envy. Do not compete, exclude, or harm each other.

As the Word of God today clearly teaches, if people do not forgive each other, they themselves will not be forgiven by God. If we are still arrogant, thinking that we are better, holier, more moral, and criticizing our brothers and sisters as sinners, then be careful! Our souls will be burned in hell for eternity.

The Word of God today also teaches that if we judge, condemn, and blame our brothers and sisters, our souls and bodies will also be eternally punished! For God the Father is the One who sees all people; no one can hide from Him! He is the One with absolute power, and even Satan, who is disobedient, must bow before His presence.

Today's Word of God tells everyone in this world that if each person knows how to love their brothers and sisters as much as themselves, God the Father will also love and reward them in accordance with the love they have for others. The more we give, the more we will receive—and even more! That is, He will give eternal happiness in the Kingdom of Heaven. So choose wisely, follow the will of God the Father today, reflect on His Word over and over again, and put it into practice. For God's Word has the power to dispel the demons of Satan who control the souls and bodies of humans. God's Word has the power to draw people closer to the Source of light, so that they can enjoy complete happiness with God—a happiness that no one can take away!

Therefore, here on earth, people should strive to enrich themselves before God the Father by living virtues and practicing His loving teachings. Let us follow the example of King David: obey God the Father above all things, trust and rely on His teachings, and fear the commands that God lovingly gives to each person.

Thanks be to God. Amen.