It’s a tough day for a lot of people today. It’s September 11th, 2025. This day is weighty alone but couple the day with two tragedies that happened yesterday for our nation. The first was political leader Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at one of his rallies where he fosters open dialogue about hot button issues, issues that affect every last one of us in one way or another. The second tragedy that was overlooked by the shock of Charlie being killed was another school shooting in the state of Colorado. Couple any one of these things along with all the personal things we are struggling with, and suddenly things can feel very heavy, and hopelessness can easily sink in. I myself am struggling with a lot personally, and I know that so many good friends are struggling as well, so I decided to elaborate on the first reading from today’s daily mass readings – thus we have the title for this blog. It is from Colossians 3:12-17.
“Put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Those are some tough virtues to grasp on to in the wake of people extending violence in our nation. And today, of all days, a day in which the ultimate acts of violence were committed against our country. It is painful to know that we have our own American citizens acting out violently against our country. Hate breeds hate. The enemy, the liar, satan himself is sitting back laughing and hoping that we all allow the stirrings of hate to reside in our heart of hearts. But Christ is calling us to more: to put on LOVE. Today’s gospel speaks of loving our enemies. Go back and read the title for today’s blog (I’ll wait)…. and over all these put on love. Over all what?? well, the first full sentence of this paragraph says it: heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Can we love without the rest of these virtues?
I have been praying this year for the virtue of gentleness. It is not an easy virtue for me and certainly does not come naturally. But I know this is a virtue I need to foster in my life. The enemy is roaring, and he is looking to devour me, to make me have anger reside in my heart. But what does the bible say about anger? Two things: if you are angry, do not sin, and second, do not let the sun go down on your anger. What does it mean when the bible says, be angry, but don’t sin? Recognizing our anger is good, but it is hard not to sin when we are angry. Anger is simply an emotion that stems from some other emotion, usually fear. Anger is the devil’s playground. He loves to keep people trapped in fear. I hear people talk a lot about righteous anger, but I’m certain very few people can achieve faith-filled anger.
September 11th is a tough day for me, and for many people. IT is a reminder for me of all I lost. It is because of this day that I was deployed, sent to Afghanistan to serve our country, and lost a lot of my life, my relationship with my daughter, and became someone I really didn’t like very well for a long time. So, now here I sit on this day that brings a lot of emotion for me writing about putting on love. I want to love. I want to be virtuous. I want to show others how grand is the love of Christ. This is new battleground for me. I know how to be angry. I know how to fight with a gun in my hand, grapple with my bare hands, yell profanities in anger, and fight for justice by being loud so to be heard. But to fight the enemy with love? To engage in spiritual warfare so as to battle for Christ? This is still foreign to me. I want so much to put on love. Today’s reading from Colossians is a good reminder of what God is asking of me.
So, what will I do this day to allow Christ to win? I will re-read through Colossians 3:12-17, and through today’s gospel: Luke 6:27-38. I will spend more time meditating on these words from scripture, and I will pray. I will pray for those who were injured in this country on 9/11, I will pray for those who continue to enact violence. I will pray for Charlie Kirk, and his family, and for hearts to be softened in the wake of violence. I will pray for all the children, teachers, administrators, parents, family and friends of those who have been affected so grievously by school gun violence.
I will leave you with the readings for today. They are powerful words from the Lord on a day which can feel so heavy. Lord, be with us as we strive to fight the spiritual battle that wages around us. May we win souls for the Kingdom by leaning into Love.
Reading 1
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.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
“To you who hear I say, love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,
pray for those who mistreat you.
To the person who strikes you on one cheek,
offer the other one as well,
and from the person who takes your cloak,
do not withhold even your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks of you,
and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
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.
If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners,
and get back the same amount.
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,
and lend expecting nothing back;
then your reward will be great
and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as also 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.”
JMW
Be Strong and Courageous 