Thursday – 23rd Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel – Luke 6:27-38

Keep It Simple!

Going for a Walk

I remember as a young father the times I would go outside after hearing the neighborhood kids arguing or fighting about something.  I felt somehow that it was part of my job as a parent to be a peacemaker.  So I would go out, gather the kids together, have them all say they were sorry and shake hands.  And I would get the dumbest looks from all of them.  And for a very good reason!  By the time I got outside, they had already moved on.  They had already completely forgotten what they were arguing about and just went back to playing together.  Forgive and forget! 

If only it were so simple these days.  If only we hadn’t forgotten how to be child-like!  All we seem to see and read about today are adults acting CHILD-ISH!  Spoiled, demanding to get our way, refusing to see the other side, angry, bitter, vengeful, full of spite and selfishness.  We call each other fools and idiots; we belittle others because they are different.  Why did we ever grow up?  Why did we forget?

We face a hard lesson in today’s Gospel.  Jesus has been leading up to these words over the past week or so.  And today He lays down the law in no uncertain terms.  Love everyone, even your enemies!  Forgive all!  Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. 

Simple?  Yes!  Easy to carry out?  Hardly! In fact almost impossible to practice!  And yet, in another sense, it is easy.  You don’t have to choose who to love and who not to love – just love everyone!  You don’t have to decide who to forgive; forgive everyone!  Treat everyone the same! 

Treat others the way you want to be treated!  We said before, in another homily, that sin affects the whole community, not just the sinner.  How much more so LOVE!  Jesus has given us a seemingly impossible task, difficult to practice much less master.  But if not us, then who?  if not here, then where?  If not now, then when?  

May the peace of Christ and the love of God our Father direct our hearts and our actions!

 

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