Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: February 26, 2024

Date:   Monday of the 2nd Week of Lent

 Scripture Text:  Luke 6:36-38

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."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel for today is taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain as recounted in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus teaches that we are to be merciful to one another as the Heavenly Father is merciful towards us beginning with not judging others nor condemning others. We are called, by Jesus, to treat others as we hope the LORD and others will treat us. Finally, Jesus sums up by noting that whatever we give will be returned to us.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I seek in all situations to treat others as I hope they would treat me? Do I ask of the LORD loving kindness that I myself am unwilling to give to others?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, taught of us your love and mercy and revealed to us your desire that we treat others as we ourselves pray that You will treat us, with loving kindness and mercy. Send your Spirit to stir your love within us so that it might tenderize our hearts and remove any willful stubbornness of unkindness. Grant that we may become the ones you created us to be and bring your loving kindness wherever we go. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.