Luke 6:27-38
27 “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
”I say to you that listen...”
This Sunday's Gospel sums up Jesus' preaching, teaching and model of life. It’s Jesus as He is, being the Way, the Truth and the Life.
St. Luke ‘s passage introduces Jesus speaking to those that listen to Him. In Eastern culture, there is a difference between the concept of hearing, paying attention or understanding vs. to listen to, which includes all the aforementioned plus putting them into action.
This reminds us of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the Lord is one....." Jesus is speaking to those who are willing to hear, know, understand, love and live according to His Model of life.
Jesus’ whole teaching today, as always, springs from Love and pours God's love into our human hearts. It acts and goes beyond all boundaries or legalities. It even embraces the enemy, which means having no enemy. It distinguishes evil from the evil doer, rejects evil but ransoms the perpetrator!
This love may not be rational or emotional. It is an act of decisive will to be God's instrument. It lets grace prevail over sin. It allows the person who lives this love to be God's associate through obedience to the Holy Spirit, without whom nothing in this matter is possible.
This love is the barometer of our real faith. An indicator of its depth is how faithful we are to His golden rule, "Do to others as you would have them do to you" Luke 6:3.
Jesus repeated this several times as He made forgiveness a basic reference, coming from God's love to be shown in our own. "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you!” Matthew 6:14.
He includes this condition of forgiveness in the prayer He taught us, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive everyone who sins against us" Luke 11:4.
God's love in human hearts turns our humanity into a channel of mercy. Jesus orders us to be “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful!" Luke 6:36.
Take a few moments for reflection, meditation and a conscience check. How true is that in my personal life, in this world of today where we need to uproot hatred and every kind of evil, in our family, society, church, nation and among nations!
Let us start at home. Let me start myself by being among those who listen to Him, and to whom His word and His model are meaningful!
Father Kamal - Feb 20, 2022