10-Sep-15

Gospel LK 6:27-38
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 also 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:
Jesus begins his list of how we should interact with our fellow man with the words:
"To you who hear I say, love your enemies."
Therein lies the key to the rest of the passage. Do I simply read the words, or do I actually "hear" in my heart what Jesus is saying?
Our Lord, is calling us to "love."
With an exercise of willpower, I might be able to do good to those who hate me, turn my cheek to those who strike me or give my coat to someone without asking for it back.
But, if I do these things with a grudging heart, then as St. Paul says, "If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal." 1 Corinthians 13:1.
In today's gospel, Jesus is not laying down a list of seemingly impossible tasks for us to accomplish. He is calling us to put away attitudes of selfishness, hatred and revenge and instead, clothe ourselves in gentleness, selflessness and love.
To the extent that we are able to love, yes, even our enemies, then we will act toward others with love.
I think of Vinny, my sponsor in Alcoholics Anonymous. When I first got into the Program thirty years ago, there was a fellow who really seemed to go out of his way to aggravate me. I talked the situation over with Vinny, and he said, "Pray for him, Jim. You'll be surprised how good it will make you feel."
"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."
I prayed for him, and Vinny was right. I began to feel better. I guess I must have been feeling love.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.