LOVE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES  

September 9, Thursday

TWENTY-THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

      Paul asks his Colossians to express in deeds the life they have received in baptism. The most precious gift they have received is love. Love binds into one in perfect harmony all the virtues they have received and also binds together all Christians as one people of God: they are now one body. They can sing out their love and gratitude to God in songs of thanksgiving.

      Love does not rest on sympathies alone. A gospel-love, a love of faith, has no boundaries. One who loves gives more than asked and loves the “unlovable,” including enemies. It does not judge nor condemn, is always ready to be compassionate and forgiving. When we look at all these implications, we have to confess with shame that we are far from this ideal proposed us by our Lord. How far are we in this world the sign of God’s own love?

 

First Reading: Colossians 3:12-17

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

 

Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

“To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

“Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

“I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”

 

Prayer

God our Father,
from whom all good things come
and for whom we live,
fill us with your own gratuitous love,
the one you have shown us in Jesus Christ.
Teach us to love and bless
even those who curse or maltreat us.
Indeed, deepen and widen our limited love,
make it without measure, like yours,
that we may be called sons and daughters
of you, the Most High, our Father,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Reflection:

Commandments of the New Testament

The authors of the gospels have tried to present Jesus as the new Moses – the new law-giver- the Messiah. The Ten Commandments formed the basis of the Jewish faith which offered them guidelines for their religious as well as social life. In the New Testament, Jesus gives a new guideline for those who follow him. And he reinterprets the laws and explains the commandment of love as the first and most important of all commandments.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives a new set of values for those who follow him, explaining in greater detail the commandment of love, which involves doing good, blessing, praying, not refusing but always giving. Here, the command to love is introduced with a twist – the twist is: to love even our actual enemies and to do good for those who hate us; to bless those who curse us; to pray not only for our needs and those of our dear and near ones, but also for the needs of those who abuse us. The biggest challenge that would prick our conscience would be the command to give. The newness of the Gospel lies in giving of oneself, giving one’s heart without expecting anything in return.

Jesus’ invitation to respond to insult and wrongdoing with love, has created a new culture in the world: Pope Francis calls this “A culture of mercy.” In his apostolic letter for the Year of Mercy, Misericordia et Misera (20) he wrote that the “culture of mercy should set in motion a real cultural revolution – a revolution of love, in which the protagonists are the martyrs of all times.” And Jesus assures us that our behaviour, inspired by love for those who do us harm, will not be in vain. He tells us: “forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.”

Is it Possible to Love our enemies and do good to those who hate you? This is precisely what God continuously does. Essentially, God is love. And God has created us “to Do good, and to lend without interest, expecting nothing in return. And your reward will be great”.

“Do not judge” is a new commandment – as important as any one of the ten commandments. Judgement always happens because of comparisons – we compare ourselves with others and judge how good or bad we are. God does not compare, because he created us unique. There is nothing comparable and therefore, Jesus says, he himself does not judge. The path of Jesus is generosity, the giving of oneself without measure. He came into the world to save and he gave himself, he forgave, he spoke ill of no one, he did not judge.

Video available on Youtube: Commandments of the New Testament