Homily on Luke 6:27-38

Luke 6:27-38

“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."

Dear  Folks,

Today's Gospel reading from Luke presents us with a radical and challenging call, a call that cuts against the grain of our natural instincts. Jesus speaks of a love that transcends boundaries, a love that defies logic, a love that truly reflects the heart of God.

"But I say to you who listen, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." These words are not easy. They are not comfortable. They are a direct challenge to the way we typically respond to conflict and hurt.

Our natural inclination is to retaliate, to seek revenge, to defend ourselves. But Jesus calls us to a higher path, a path of love and forgiveness. He asks us to see beyond the actions that wound us, to recognize the humanity of those who oppose us.

Think about the implications of this. To love our enemies is to break the cycle of violence and hatred. It's to refuse to be defined by the actions of others. It's to choose compassion over condemnation.

Jesus doesn't stop there. He gives us concrete examples: "If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again."

These are not literal commands to be exploited. Rather, they are powerful illustrations of the radical generosity and self-sacrificing love that Jesus calls us to. They demonstrate a willingness to relinquish our rights, to prioritize the needs of others, to trust in God's provision.

Jesus then addresses the common, transactional nature of love: "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." He challenges us to move beyond reciprocal love, to extend our love to those who don't deserve it, to those who can't repay us.

"But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked." This is the heart of the Gospel: God's unconditional love for all, even those who reject Him. We are called to imitate that love, to reflect God's mercy in our own lives.

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." This is the key. It's not about our own strength or our own righteousness. It's about tapping into the boundless mercy of God.

And then, Jesus speaks about judgment and forgiveness: "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you."

We are not called to be the arbiters of justice. We are called to be instruments of God's mercy. Forgiveness is not about condoning wrongdoing; it's about releasing ourselves from the burden of bitterness and resentment.

The measure we give will be the measure we get back. This is not a simple equation of rewards and punishments. It's a reflection of the interconnectedness of our lives. When we extend mercy and generosity, we create a ripple effect of love and compassion in the world.

This Gospel reading is a call to transformation. It's a call to abandon our old ways of thinking and acting, to embrace a new way of living, a way of love, forgiveness, and mercy. It's a call to become true children of the Most High, reflecting His love to a world in desperate need of it. Let us strive, with God's grace, to live out these challenging and beautiful words. Amen.

O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing; Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you.  Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Love,

+Br'er Abbot