Gospel

Luke 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

It's not unusual for us to spend time with someone who is continually criticizing and judging things as not what they should be. And it sometimes exhausts our energy. And what we see in this beautiful passages, is what Jesus saying is that when we look at someone else's life or a situation and we don't have compassion, empathy, and we look at just facts.

It's very easy to just judge someone as being worthless or being wrong, and all Jesus wants is for us consciously to greet each other, to be with each other, and to be supportive.

Closing Prayer

Father, you have this disposition toward us that's so beautiful. You take us as we are. You long for us to grow and to change. And most especially, you love us. You don't focus on our faults, but on our needs. So bless us with that disposition, especially toward ourselves. As we continue to build your kingdom. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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