Thursday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time

The readings this morning are about what it means to publicly wear the heart of Christ.

Paul tells the Colossians: clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. This is not an optional extra. It is the daily uniform of a Christian. The world’s peace often comes by force—the stronger crushing the weaker. But Christ’s peace is born of reconciliation, forgiveness, and dignity. And we know how desperately our world needs that kind of peace today.

Just look around us: Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and so many other places where hatred is handed down like an inheritance. Everyone claims justice, but without mercy, peace never comes.

The psalm tells us: “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.” Praise doesn’t mean ignoring suffering. It means finding strength in the middle of it. Here in Zimbabwe, where many carry heavy burdens, praise is a way of saying: God’s goodness will not be drowned out. His goodness will prevail.

And then Jesus says: “Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you.” For His listeners, an enemy was very real—a cheating neighbour, a tax collector, a soldier in their street. For us, it may be someone who lies or excludes. For our world, it is nations at war. And still Jesus says: meet them with mercy. On the Cross, He prayed for His executioners as the nails went in. That is the strength of God’s love, breaking the cycle of vengeance.

So Paul tells us: put on Christ. Let mercy be our clothing. Let praise be our breath. Let peace be our way of life. If we live clothed like that, the peace of Christ will grow in us—and through us.

Here are some questions that we might consider today:

• Who is the person I struggle most to forgive, and what simple act of blessing could I show them this week?
• What old garment—resentment, selfishness, fear—do I need to take off, so I can put on compassion and kindness?
• How can my praise of God become action that brings His peace to my community, and helps break cycles of hatred?

Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace,
clothe us in your mercy,
teach us to love even our enemies,
and make us instruments of your peace,
in our communities, our nation, and our world.
Amen.