September 11, 2025 Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 6:27-38
St. Paul exhorts the Colossians to live as God’s chosen people, holy and beloved. Their Christian “protocol” is not defined by rigid customs but by the virtues they embody. They are called to clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and above all, love. These virtues shape daily life, teaching believers to bear with one another, forgive as Christ forgave, and celebrate the gift of reconciliation. The peace of Christ must reign in their hearts, and His word should dwell richly within them. Gratitude should mark their lives, expressed in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. At the core of Christian living lies one principle: everything must be done in the name of the Lord Jesus.
God’s very nature is love, and His agenda is fellowship with all. Hence, in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus presents a radical teaching: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, and bless those who curse you. Retaliation has no place in His program. Instead, prayer, generosity, and forgiveness are the hallmarks of true discipleship. To give without expecting anything in return is to reflect the heart of the Father, who is merciful beyond measure.
Jesus raises the bar further: His followers must not judge or condemn but rather forgive and give without limits. His reasoning is simple yet profound: “The measure you give will be the measure you get back” (Luke 6:38). In this context, He introduces the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31).
Thus, the Christian life is a journey of radical love, rooted in Christ, patterned after the mercy of the Father, and expressed in concrete actions toward neighbour and even enemy. To live this way is to make Christ the true centre of one’s life.
Call to Action: Judging and condemning someone I dislike often comes to me spontaneously. Am I instead able to resist and grow in compassion and forgiveness?
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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