20 February Sunday

Reflection: Luke 6: 27-38

Today’s Gospel brings up the central point that characterises the life of a Christian: love for enemies, forgiveness and mercy. We speak of the Ten Commandments as the basic rules of our faith. However, here, Jesus gives a new set of commandments: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Vv. 27-38). Moreover, this is not optional, and it is a command. Pope Francis explains the passage: Jesus is aware that loving enemies is beyond our natural behaviour, but this is why God became man: not to leave us in our instinctive behaviours and reactions, but to transform us into men and women capable of a greater love, that we can love even those who hate us and even those who do us harm. The logic of love, which culminates in the Cross of Christ, is the badge of a Christian. However, how can humans overcome the instinct of retaliation? Jesus provides the answer: “Be merciful, even as your Heavenly Father is merciful” (v. 36). Only then do we discover that we are capable of tenderness and goodness. Jesus assures great reward when we love those who do us harm. “forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you” (vv. 37-38). God gives us everything beautiful when we are generous and merciful. If we do not learn to forgive one another, we will always be at war. Pope Francis teaches us that if you do not know how to forgive, you are not a Christian, because you do not do as the Lord did. Each day, when we pray the Our Father, we say: ‘forgive us, as we forgive’. This is the will of God: Forgive one another! As the Lord has forgiven you, so should you do at home, in your neighbourhood, at work… Bear with each other without resorting to gossips or complaints. “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful”. It is an invitation to understand others, not to condemn them. Addressing the priests on the need for mercy, the pope had an interesting message: “If you are a priest, but fail to be merciful, tell your bishop to assign you to administrative work, but do not go down to the confessional, please! Because a priest who is not merciful, does so much harm in the confessional. Perhaps one could justify it, saying: “I am merciful, but it is just that I am a little upset…”. Before entering the confessional, go to the doctor who can give a pill for your nerves! But be merciful! The Christian way is not arrogance, not condemnation, not speaking ill of others. But it is the way of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience. It is the way of Jesus.