Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: September 11, 2025

Date: Thursday of the 23^rd Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:  Colossians 3:12-17

Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one Body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

Today’s first reading continues our reading of Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. Today, Paul’s words exhort us, as God’s chosen ones, to put on our best, to forgive one another for transgressions, and to put on love, the bond of perfection. Paul calls us to intentionally embrace Christ our Savior and to choose to live loving lives, following in His footsteps, for love of Christ and for the glory of our Almighty Father.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I begin my days with thoughts like Paul’s, positive, loving, empowering? Do I intentionally seek to live the life I was created to live with all the love I can muster?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son Jesus Christ, and Most Holy Spirit, be with us, help us to choose You and your loving “Way” daily. Grant that we may bear with one another and forgive one another as You yourself bear with us and show us mercy. Fill our hearts with the peace that only You can grant. Bestow upon us, we implore You, your transformative love that can guide us and grace us and gift us and call us into being the ones You created us to be and call us to be. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.