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.”
The Measure of Love is to Love without Measure
The grace of Baptism grants us to become children of God by adoption (John 1:12), to clothe ourselves with Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:27), and to become temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). In short, to become children of God, that is, children of Love that does not deny itself, enables us to no longer live for ourselves but for Christ who lives in us (Galatians 2:20-21).
When we live what we believe, we will be able to meet Jesus' teaching about loving others, not only those who love us, but also those we don't love, and those who hate us and even our enemies who persecute us. Our God-given task is inspired by love and overcomes evil with love.
This is how we are to behave in all areas of life. We give without expecting anything in return, "Freely you received, freely give" Matthew 10:8b. The standard of love goes beyond what is legally due. St. Luke describes this through measurements.
They use a metal or wooden vessel that holds two or more kilos as a regular, standard measurement. When the merchant measures for somebody he loves, he presses down the flour or lets the grain run over, exceeding the regular measure by as much as double. This is how the Lord wants His disciples to exceed the usual measures when they deal with others - with generous love and joyful giving.
We are invited to pay attention to the verbs St. Luke is using:
Love your enemies;
Do good to those who hate you;
Bless those who curse you;
Forgive and you will be forgiven;
Give without expecting any return; and
Pray for those who abuse you.
May the Lord help us to live and walk with these virtues!