Feb 24 2019 Reflection

Sunday 24 February 2019

First Reading: 1 SM 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
Responsorial Psalm:
The Lord is kind and merciful.
PS 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13
Second Reading: 1 COR 15:45-49
Gospel Reading: LK 6:27-38

Today’s Note: Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Reading:

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 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.” 

Reflection:

Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. (Luke 6:37) 

Jesus couldn’t have been more clear. If you want to avoid condemnation, don’t condemn other people.

Let’s say you see a rumpled, grizzled person sleeping on a park bench. You wonder how he got there. You wonder why he isn’t trying to fix his life. You begin to wish he weren’t there. You feel a kind of aversion to him, and you take a wide berth around him as you walk by. Jesus says, “Don’t condemn him.”

Or you are listening to the news when a story about a politician you don’t like comes on. You feel your shoulders tighten, and you think of all the ways this person is corrupt and misguided. You recall the evil policies he or she has supported, and you feel disgust for this person. Jesus says, “Don’t condemn.”

Or you learn of a teenager who is pregnant out of wedlock. You begin to think of how her parents must have failed in their job. Unkind labels for this young woman pop into your head, and you think of how you would never let yourself fall into such a horrible sin. Jesus says, “Don’t condemn her.”

To the best of your ability, put aside harsh judgments and condemning thoughts. If not for the other person’s sake, then for your own sake. Try to rise above the realm of judgment, where everyone gets what’s coming to them—because everyone in that realm will be judged harshly. Even you.

Instead, step into the realm of God’s mercy. Move into the realm where everyone is invited to forgiveness and treated with love, dignity, and generosity. Even you. Give the gift of forgiveness, and it will be given to you. Give the gift of a second chance—or a third or fourth or hundredth—and it will be given to you. Give the gift of the benefit of the doubt, and it will be given to you.

Even if you don’t want to give, do it anyway. Jesus commands it, and he promises eternal rewards to those who do. 

“Lord, help me to be merciful as you are merciful.”