This week’s Gospel message for Sunday, February 20th is from Luke 6:27-38.
“Jesus said to his disciples: . . . ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you . . . love your enemies and do good to them . . . 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.’”
“Jesus teaches the Golden Rule, ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you’, but immediately takes it one step further, telling his disciples to ‘love your enemies and do good to them’. Note that he is not telling them just to passively tolerate them, but to actively do kind things for them. It asks us to look at our enemies as God does, with mercy and love. Our challenge is to reconcile with those we want to condemn, giving others the mercy God gives us.” SOURCE: Pastoral Patterns, Winter 2021-2022
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105
Monday James 3:13-18; Mark 9:14-29
Tuesday 1 Peter 5:1-4; Matthew 16:13-19
The Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle (Feast) – On this day, early Roman Christians celebrated a feast in honor of their departed loved ones, including their beloved predecessors in the faith, Peter and Paul. When, in the fourth century, the feast of these two saints was moved to June 29, this day in February focused on celebrating Peter and his successors as bishops of Rome and expressing gratitude for their service.
Wednesday James 4:13-17; Mark 9:38-40
Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr (Memorial) – Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, was a leader of the second generation of Christians. He was a disciple of the apostle John and friend of Ignatius of Antioch, who visited him while journeying to martyrdom in Rome. Martyred for his faith, he is one of the Fathers of the early Church.
Thursday James 5:1-6; Mark 9:41-50
Friday James 5:9-12; Mark 10:1-12
Saturday James 5:13-20; Mark 10:13-16