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Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
First Reading: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103: 1-4, 8-10, 12-13
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:45-49
Gospel: Luke 6:27-38
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. We hear the Golden Rule (v 31) proclaimed in today’s Gospel as we pick up from last week: Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain. The Golden Rule shapes our understanding of Christian ethics which consists not in merely refraining from evil, but in actively doing good, and not only to those who are friends, but to those who hate us or do evil against us. As disciples, we can’t have an attitude of live-and-let-live, or, it doesn’t matter what you do as long as it doesn’t affect me. We are called not to close ourselves off, but to actively work for good in the world.
Now this is an important point that often gets confused. Many will accuse Catholics of trying to work our way into heaven. That is not why we work for good. We are saved only by the unmerited, undeserved grace of God through the redemptive blood of Jesus Christ. We can’t work our way into heaven. But, as disciples, we try to live changed lives – changed by the Good News of Jesus Christ. And so we try to follow the example of Jesus’ and the ways we see God working in our lives. The imitation of God requires disciples to be merciful, for example, just as God the Father is merciful.
That’s the power of Christian love. The readings instruct us about our right and wrong choices. Right choices lead us to God and wrong ones break our relationship with Him and one another. Today’s readings give us powerful lessons about ways we can follow both Jesus’ and God’s examples.
Today’s first reading shows us how David made the right choice by respecting God’s anointed king by forgiving his offenses, while Saul continued to make the wrong choices, perpetuating his misery with his revenge. David understood that God loves Saul just as much as God loved him.
The Responsorial Psalm reminds us of the mercy of God and His compassion for us: as a Father has compassion on His children.
In today’s second reading, St. Paul tells us how the “First Adam” made a wrong choice of disobedience, bringing death into the world, whereas Jesus, the “Second Adam” made the correct choice of fulfilling his Father’s saving plan.
But in today’s Gospel the Golden Rule is amplified by the examples He gives. Jesus gives three commands on how we should treat our enemies and those who wrong us as examples: do good to them, bless them, pray for them. Whoa! Now this is a little harder than it sounds. Look, here’s a simple exercise to try. Once I wrote down on a piece of paper all the names of people who didn’t like. Next, I intentionally prayed for each and every name on the list. Say something like, “Lord, Jesus, I lift up x to you. Please bless them with health and happiness.” Then move on to the next.
Moment of truth. As I worked my way down the short list, I stumbled. Now some of these were way back in my past – over twenty years in one case, and I stumbled. I thought I’d forgiven them and moved on. I thought I was healed, but I realized I still have a little more healing to do. Pope St. John Paul II tells us that Luke’s “Gospel has earned the title of ‘the Gospel of mercy.’”[1] If I’m going to imitate God, then I need to show the person who hurt me mercy and I need to show myself mercy and stop holding on to a grudge.
That make sense, doesn’t it? That’s what I ask for every time I pray the Lord’s prayer, right? “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us (Luke 11:4). “Do to others as you would have them do to you,” (v 31).
Is this easy? No, but the good news is we are not alone. Alone, we can do nothing, but with God, anything is possible, (Mt 19:26). It’s God’s mercy and love working in us that helps us to treat others, not as they deserve but with love, kindness and mercy.
So at every mass, as we pray the Lord’s Prayer asking God to forgive us as we forgive others, we are reminded, renewed and refreshed in God’s mercy and love. So next time you go to mass, maybe pray for the strength to forgive.
Homework. This week, I’d like us to reflect on the following two questions.
- Do we allow emotions such as hatred and jealousy to guide our spiritual lives, or do we try to be more like Jesus?
- How can I better live out this call to mercy?
Do you got it? Good! Be sure to scroll down through the notes of this podcast. Way at the bottom are some thoughts from the Catechism for further reading. The Lord be with you. Through the divine mercy of Jesus Christ, may each of come to know the generous mercy and love of God! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. +Amen!
Notes
[1] John Paul II, Dives in Misericordia (On the Mercy of God), 3.
Further Reading
CCC 1789: Some rules apply in every case: One may never do evil so that good may result from it; the Golden Rule: “Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.” Charity always proceeds by way of respect for one’s neighbor and his conscience: “Thus sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience . . . you sin against Christ.” Therefore “it is right not to . . . do anything that makes your brother stumble.”
CCC 1970 : The Law of the Gospel requires us to make the decisive choice between “the two ways” and to put into practice the words of the Lord. It is summed up in the Golden Rule, “Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; this is the law and the prophets.” The entire Law of the Gospel is contained in the “new commandment” of Jesus, to love one another as he has loved us.
CCC 1458: Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful: Whoever confesses his sins . . . is already working with God. God indicts your sins; if you also indict them, you are joined with God. Man and sinner are, so to speak, two realities: when you hear “man” – this is what God has made; when you hear “sinner” – this is what man himself has made. Destroy what you have made, so that God may save what he has made. . . . When you begin to abhor what you have made, it is then that your good works are beginning, since you are accusing yourself of your evil works. The beginning of good works is the confession of evil works. You do the truth and come to the light. (St. Augustine, In Jo. ev. 12,13:PL 35,1491)
CCC 2842: This “as” is not unique in Jesus’ teaching: “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”; “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful”; “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another,” (Mt 5:48; Lk 6:36; Jn 13:34). It is impossible to keep the Lord’s commandment by imitating the divine model from outside; there has to be a vital participation, coming from the depths of the heart, in the holiness and the mercy and the love of our God. Only the Spirit by whom we live can make “ours” the same mind that was in Christ Jesus, (Cf. Gal 5:25; Phil 2:1,5). Then the unity of forgiveness becomes possible and we find ourselves “forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave” us, (Eph 4:32).