Luke 6:27-38

Colossians 3:12-17

Psalm 150:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6

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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you love those who accept you and your Son and even those who reject you and your Son. You do not give up but seek their conversion. You are always ready to welcome your wayward child. Teach me your ways of mercy.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Love your Enemies: In the Gospel, Jesus is giving his “Sermon on the Plain.” He began with the blessings and woes of the New Covenant. It is interesting how things like poverty, hunger, prosperity, and persecution were seen as curses in the Old Covenant, but have become the pathways to blessing in the New Covenant. The transformation of the old continues in the passage we read. Jesus says: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies.” The Book of Deuteronomy, given by Moses, commanded the harsh treatment and even killing and extermination of Israel’s enemies. Jesus, the New Moses, corrects the old Laws of Moses and brings them to fulfillment. Israel, in the New Covenant, does not need to fear their enemies and the corrupting influence of their pagan practices. In fact, the new Israel is being sent out to the nations, not to destroy them, but to bring them into the merciful Kingdom of God.

2. Stop Judging and Condemning: The New Covenant brings with it the power of the Holy Spirit. From a human and merely natural point of view, it is difficult to love those who wish us evil. It is almost impossible to refrain from judging others, to leave condemnation to God, to forgive those who sin against us, and to be generous with the less fortunate. But, empowered by the Spirit, we can live supernaturally. We forgive more readily when we are grateful for how much God has forgiven us. We pray not for the condemnation of others, but for their salvation. If we practice spiritual gentleness and are meek and humble of heart, we will be patient with others and not be quick to judge. We will be generous with our earthly treasure, knowing that we are building up heavenly treasure with our Father.

3. Put on Love: Yesterday, when we read from Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, we heard a long list of vices that we need to put to death and take off. Today, the passage from Colossians begins with a list of Christian virtues and practices: “Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another. … And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:12-13). Love, peace, thankfulness, the word of Christ dwelling in us, wisdom, singing psalms and spiritual hymns… these are the characteristics of Christian life. Paul encourages the Colossians and us to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through Jesus. This is why we are encouraged to pray at the beginning of our day, throughout the day when we begin a new activity, before meals, and before we go to sleep. It is a way of offering all our words and deeds to the Father through the Son and in the Holy Spirit.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I want to be just, charitable, holy, and merciful like you and your Father. Teach me the way of justice so that I give to others what is theirs. Teach me the way of charity so that I give to others generously. Teach me the way of holiness so that I do all with a right intention. Teach me the way of mercy so that I forgive those who have offended me.

Living the Word of God: Today, Jesus tells us: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Do we want to be treated fairly and justly? Do we want to be treated with mercy when we fail? Do we want to be forgiven? Then we need to treat others with justice, love, and mercy.