Sisters and brothers in Christ, in today’s Gospel, Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount. Our Lord teaches us to love our enemies, to turn the other cheek, to stop judging, to stop condemning, to forgive, and to be merciful as our Father is heaven us merciful.
These are hard teachings. However, if we follow them with a humble and contrite heart, then this is how we become more like Christ and see Christ in our fellow man. For [God] "he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked." Who are the ungrateful and wicked ones? Who else but us. Yet, God loves us and shows us mercy; we are called to do the same.
It is as Saint Paul wrote to the Corinthians: ". . .love builds up. . ."; let us build up one another in love. Why is this important for us? Well, as Saint John writes: "If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us."
We cannot do it on our own but we can with grace from God and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, let us ask God to guide us along the everlasting way. For "there is one God, the Father, from whom all things are and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are and through whom we exist. . " because God loves us.
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Gospel
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.”
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