Monday, March 17th
Annell Holland
“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.”
Luke 6:27-38
Earlier in this chapter, Luke tells us Jesus is addressing “a great crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people.” I expect there were many predisposed notions among His followers for Him to overcome.There was, and still is, much to unpack in His teaching: pray for those who mistreat and abuse you, give and expect nothing in return, be merciful and forgive, don’t judge, love your enemies… not exactly an eye for an eye theology!
How confusing these words must have been for His followers? The notion to love, even when you are met with hate, to forgive when you are met with abuse, and to offer acceptance not judgement. All of these are fairly simple in concept, yet not so easily lived. What is Jesus calling us to do?
I am drawn to these words of forgiveness. Every time, yes every time, I pray the Lord’s Prayer the words: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” scream to my heart. I know I have much work to do there. Is Jesus saying He only forgives me as I forgive others? “For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
When I think about His words regarding judging others, I am reminded of my husband’s philosophy. He says, “God and I had a conversation a long time ago. God said when it comes to judging people, you can stand down. I got this.” And truly He does. In the end, standing in His presence, we will be judged.
In the meantime, let’s choose to love. Yes, we will stumble, fall, ask for forgiveness, and receive His forgiveness. Let’s be in communication with Him constantly through prayer, church, the Eucharist, reading His words… I believe it is here we will find what it is He truly wants us to do. We will find how to be the hands and feet of Jesus on earth. I love a prayer my sister has written on a sticky note and attached to the dashboard in her car: “God, please help me to be a better person today than I was yesterday. Amen”
Let’s remember His example. He was betrayed, judged, beaten, nailed to a cross, and left there to die. In return He prayed for His persecutors, “Father forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against thee in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved thee with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in thy will, and walk in thy ways, to the glory of thy Name. Amen
Book of Common Prayer page 331