September 10, 2026
Thursday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

Today is Thursday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time. The passage from the Gospel of Saint Luke presents to us the way of Christ’s forgiveness. I would like to take this opportunity to offer some reflections.

Jesus said to His disciples: “Listen to me: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn the other to him as well; and if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and if someone takes what is yours, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (cf. Luke 6:27-31)

As I reflect on this passage, I often sense a certain resistance within me. For us, face is important, status is important, position is important, reputation is important. If we were to allow others to strike us unconditionally, it would seem no different from demanding that we show weakness. Yet this is precisely the attitude that Jesus asks of all who follow Him. He asks all who follow Him to imitate Him, to pray for those who persecute them, ever following His example on the Cross, who prayed to the Father: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (cf. Luke 23:34)

Jesus said to His disciples: “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. And if you lend it to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to receive as much in return. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend without expecting anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (cf. Luke 6:32-36)

From this teaching, we can see that Jesus asks us who follow Him no longer to conduct our relationships after the manner of the children of this world, but to be like Him, loving this world unconditionally. For when we truly love this world, we become like Him, and the merciful Father will, according to what we have done, bestow upon us every grace we need.

O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption,
look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters,
that those who believe in Christ
may receive true freedom
and an everlasting inheritance.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica