Gospel: Luke 6:36-38

 

These three brief verses of today’s Gospel are the final part of a brief discourse of Jesus. 

 

In the first part, He addresses Himself to the disciples and to the rich proclaiming four beatitudes for the disciples, and four curses for the rich. In the second part, He addresses Himself to the immense crowd of poor and sick, who had come from all parts. The words which He addresses to this people and to all of us are demanding and difficult: to love the enemy, not curse them, offer the other cheek, and do not complain if someone takes what is ours. How can this difficult advice be understood? The explanation is given in the three verses of today’s Gospel.

 

“Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful”. The idea which Jesus wants to portray comes from the new experience that He has of God the Father, full of tenderness, who accepts all, good and bad, who makes the sun shine on both the good and on the bad and makes the rain fall on both good and bad. True love does not depend, nor can it depend, on what I receive from others. Love must want the good of the other independently of what he does for me. Because this is how God’s love is for us. 

 

“Do not judge and you will not be judged”. These last words repeat in a clearer way what Jesus had said before: treat others as you would like them to treat you. Do not wait for the other one to take the initiative. You take it and begin now! You will see that it is like this.