7th Sunday of the year – Year C

1 Sam. 26:2.7-9;12-13;22-23; Psalm 102; 1 Cor. 15:45-49; Lq. 6:27-38

Read: Jesus said to his disciples: “I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to anyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you.

If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead love your enemies and do good and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He Himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon and you will be pardoned. Give and there will be gifts for you. A full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back”.

Reflect: Whenever you love whoever has done you evil things means that you are helping him to realize his errors that he might change. It is not easy for a human being to do so. This is the reason why Jesus expects of us not only love, to do good, to bless, but also to pray. It is essential that we pray for those who commit evil things against us. When we do so we make it possible for our heart to be cleansed of any form of hatred.

Let us pray to God that He will fill with goodness those who commit evil; and when we manage to pray that way, our heart will be attuned with that of our Lord in Heaven “for he causes his sun to rise on the bad as well as the good, and he sends down rain to fall on the upright and the wicked alike”. (Mt. 5:45) Those who become attuned with the thoughts, sentiments, God’s behaviour, do not condemn their brethren. God the Father – who knows what is in the hearts of all – does not condemn. Those who look upon another person in the same way as God the Father, show mercy with those who do evil, and commit themselves to turn others round towards doing good.

Pray: Fill us Lord with your strength so that, in beseeching your love, we show mercy towards whoever annoys us. Help us to serve you always with a great heart.

Act: Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will find forgiveness; give and there will be gifts for you.