Gospel
Luke 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.”
Sermon
My brothers and sisters in Christ, today's Gospel passage presents us with a radical and challenging message from Jesus. He tells us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who mistreat us. This is not a call to passive acceptance, but to active love and compassion.
Jesus is not just asking us to tolerate our enemies, but to love them. This means seeking their good, their well-being, and their salvation. It means praying for them, blessing them, and doing good to them.
But why? Why should we love our enemies? Because God loves us, even when we are ungrateful and wicked. Because God is merciful, and we are called to be merciful like Him.
Jesus also warns us against judgment and condemnation. We are not called to judge others, but to forgive them. We are not called to condemn others, but to love them.
The measure we use to measure others will be the measure used to measure us. If we give love, forgiveness, and mercy, we will receive the same in return.
May we be inspired by Jesus' words to live a life of radical love and compassion. May we love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who mistreat us.
Prayer
Let us pray: + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Almighty, merciful, and loving God, we come before you, inspired by Jesus' radical message of love and compassion. Help us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, and to pray for those who mistreat us.
Forgive us for our failure to love and forgive others. Give us the grace to seek the good, well-being, and salvation of those who oppose us.
May we be merciful, just as you are merciful. May we not judge or condemn others, but rather forgive and love them.
Help us to understand that the measure we use to measure others will be the measure used to measure us. May we give love, forgiveness, and mercy, and receive the same in return.
We pray for the strength and courage to live a life of radical love and compassion. May we be inspired by Jesus' words and example.
We pray for our enemies, that they may know your love and mercy. We pray for those who hate us, that they may be transformed by your grace.
May we be children of the Most High, reflecting your love and mercy to a world in need.
In Jesus' most holy name we pray, Amen.
Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,
Rev. Fr. Jhimerson Maneclang,SCJw