Reading 1
1 Cor 8:1b-7, 11-13
Brothers and sisters:
Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.
If anyone supposes he knows something,
he does not yet know as he ought to know.
But if one loves God, one is known by him.
So about the eating of meat sacrificed to idols:
we know that there is no idol in the world,
and that there is no God but one.
Indeed, even though there are so-called gods in heaven and on earth
(there are, to be sure, many "gods" and many "lords"),
yet for us 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.
But not all have this knowledge.
There are some who have been so used to idolatry up until now
that, when they eat meat sacrificed to idols,
their conscience, which is weak, is defiled.
Thus, through your knowledge, the weak person is brought to destruction,
the brother for whom Christ died.
When you sin in this way against your brothers
and wound their consciences, weak as they are,
you are sinning against Christ.
Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin,
I will never eat meat again,
so that I may not cause my brother to sin.
Gospel
Lk 6:27-38
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."
Meditation: Luke 6:27-38
“Love your enemies.” (Luke 6:27)
Jesus’ followers knew the tension of living in occupied territory. The soldiers and tax collectors of Herod Antipas, Rome’s client ruler, were ever present reminders of their oppression. Consequently, when Jesus spoke to people about loving their enemies, he knew it would sound absurd to them. To love those who exploited them went against every natural inclination.
Indeed, Jesus was calling his followers to be supernatural, to be “children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked” (Luke 6:35). He was calling them to share in the love that originates in the heart of the Father. This love does not spring from admiration of the one who is loved. The enemy may not be admirable, after all. Neither does it mean approving the enemy’s abuses. God’s love extends to those who do not behave admirably, even to those who are sinning in the worst way—at the very time they are sinning. Neither is this love merely the absence of malice but a compassionate desire for the other person’s good.
To love in this way asks us to be open to divine love. It asks us to try our best to be like Jesus. He experienced the love that flowed from the Father toward him, and he made a way for this grace from God to flow out through him to all people. When he was mistreated at his trial, he responded with meekness (John 18:19-24). He endured the insults with dignity and appealed to his offender with the truth and in love. Far from mere sentiment, his humility was active and constructive. Jesus served God by seeking the good of others, not just by having good feelings about them.
We all know how hard it can be to love people who mistreat us. But if we just try to make a little progress every day, we’ll see ourselves getting better over time. Yes, Jesus is calling us to be supernatural, just as he called his disciples. But he knows us intimately, and he knows how challenging this call is. So be patient with yourself. Remember how patient Jesus was with his disciples and trust that he is at least that patient with you as well!
“Father, I praise you for sharing your perfect love with me. Thank you for every opportunity to practice humility. May my small attempts at obedience give you glory!”
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