LOVE, GIVE, AND LIVE (LK 6:27-38)
“The measure of love is to love without measure.”
~ST. AUGUSTINE
READ: Luke 6:27-38
But I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect?
Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.”
REFLECT
Jesus presents us with a new way of living so that our “reward will be great” and “there will be gifts” for us. Sometimes we mistakenly think that a Christian ought somehow to be indifferent to the human desire for happiness as if wanting to be happy were some kind of sin. The truth is much more realistic: the desire for happiness is a gift from God, a homing device that impels us towards God, the only source of true and lasting happiness. If Christ demands sacrifice and generosity, if His way of life seems hard, if the cross is painful, it’s only a temporary pain, like that of someone recovering from reconstructive surgery: the doctor demands a long and arduous rehabilitation program so that the patient can once again enjoy a healthy, active, and happy life. Christ is the doctor of our fallen, selfish souls, and He eagerly looks forward to the day when we will join Him on the tennis courts in heaven.
RESPOND
You want me to be truly happy. You will never be satisfied with the counterfeit happiness this world offers, the kind I sometimes would prefer. You love me too much. I believe in You, Lord, but it’s hard to follow Your path. I need Your grace. You know I do. You will never hoard Your help. Thank You, Lord. Teach me to do Your will…
REST
Your standard of love is much too high for me. So, if You want me to live that way, You are going to have to come and be my light and my strength. Send Your Holy Spirit into my soul and into the souls of all the members of Your Church. Grant us a renewal of authentic Christian charity. You are all-powerful, Lord—you can do it! Come Holy Spirit, enkindle in me the fire of Your love…
RESOLVE
How can I carry this encounter with me into the day? (Write/Journal)
CLOSING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Most Blessed and Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for Your love and Your grace in allowing me this time of prayer with You this morning.
The world, the flesh, and the devil will all propose things I should focus on and run after today. I beg You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me instead to know and embrace Your will. Help me see what You desire of me each moment of this day. Give me the wisdom, strength, and fortitude I need to avoid distractions, discern Your will, and focus on and carry out that which Wisdom reveals. Help me to work and live at a pace of peace and prayerfulness, always attentive to You, able to hear Your voice, and to say “no” to anything that hinders my path to You and a complete “yes” to every Holy prompting from You.
Help me to humbly and purposefully live, light, and lead others to the path of union with You, and to tell everyone about this way of life. Amen.
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