September 9, 2021 Thursday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time-B ST. PETER CLAVER, PRIEST

Psalm 150

Luke 6:27-38

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!  Alleluia Ps. 150:6

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”  Lk. 6:31

Lord, I am not a mountain climber and scaling Mt. Everest is forever beyond my capability. I will never run a four-minute mile, write a symphony or walk on Mars. All these things, and so much more, are beyond me.  Your words, written down by St. Luke, describe a Mt. Everest of behavior, when viewed from a human perspective that seems impossible to achieve. You set the bar so high that I struggle to live these precepts fully. I can be tempted to just set this gospel aside and look for one more easily lived. You didn’t give it to us to be set aside though did you Lord? You describe how to live in your kingdom. Loving enemies, forgiving those who harm us, sharing our goods with those who don’t deserve them and treating people the way I want to be treated are how your children live in your kingdom. Thankfully you have given me the grace of the sacraments especially the Holy Eucharist. You have provided me with breath and a heartbeat that can give you praise always. Lord, help me to live a kingdom life and to give you praise forever.  Amen.