Today’s Gospel from Luke is a continuation of last week’s reading on the Sermon on the Plain where Jesus describes the two critical paths of choice we all face. One path is following Christ and His commandments which bring peace and joy despite earthly trials and suffering. The other path is placing our priorities on worldly desires and possessions which are fleeting. They ultimately fail to bring the lasting joy of surrendering to God’s love.
Today’s reading continues with an even more challenging teaching: “Love of Enemies”. It is hard for us to even imagine, let alone accept, this radical choice. Doing “good” to those “who hate you” makes us cringe. But remember Jesus is not speaking of a “soft” or “affectionate” type of love. Bishop Robert Barron describes this type of love as “willing the good of the other person.” So difficult when our culture teaches us to seek revenge. Instead, Jesus asks us to forgive as we hope to be forgiven, willing the best for our enemy. In today’s first reading, we have a perfect example of what Jesus is expressing. David would seemingly have had every right to kill Saul, a king who is envious of David and is out to destroy him. But David judges the moment with mercy and, while having every right to defend himself in battle, declines to kill the sleeping Saul.
How easy it would have been to eliminate his rival! But David chooses the path of righteousness. In the Gospel, Jesus is not saying that we must allow ourselves to be mistreated or abused, but we must judge each situation with mercy foremost in our hearts. Jesus spells it out most clearly, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” He tells His disciples and all of us 2000 yrs later that we must not judge, for as we “measure others” we too will be measured on judgement day. We are reminded of how Jesus offered forgiveness from the Cross, forgiving His torturers as He died. So may we always remember, “Forgive and you will be forgiven.”
Reflection by Parishioner Dale Gerber