Dear Friends,
Are we prepared for this weekend’s Gospel? It is not like we haven’t heard it before.
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. 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. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
These are just a few of the verses from this weekend’s Gospel from Luke 6:27 – 38. There is much more to reflect upon and pray with that Jesus speaks. The Lord doesn’t hold back with what the responsibilities are of His disciples.
Easy, no. Possible, yes, when we become more and more conscious of how much we graciously receive from the Lord. Then, with that realization, the more our measure for giving to others increases.
I remember people walking away from mass because the church dared to take Jesus at His word, and prayed for those considered, and rightly so, “enemies.”
Jesus shares today some of His hardest teachings. They may go against our hardwired self-protective instincts but Jesus does not pull back on His words. He calls us not to self-preservation but to live with radical love and generosity that He will model when He washes His disciples’ feet and ultimately lays down His very life for us.
Are there any people we judge because of their habits, tastes, political ideologies, etc? If so, may we know these calculating practices are foolish in the eyes of God. Like God, we are to be merciful. May we remember, Jesus does not destroy us when we have fallen in sin. He always offers us the opportunity and grace to change. He asks us to show mercy to others, all others, just as He has shown mercy to us.
There is much to reflect upon and bring to our prayer with this Gospel.
How might the Lord be calling you and me to expand our love for all peoples?
Blessings,
Rob