Gospel LK 6:36-38
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be merciful, just as 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.”
Reflection:
On the surface it seems so simple: stop judging, stop condemning, forgive.
Truly I try, but there is a life-long struggle that rages within me: the battle between my human and divine natures.
By virtue of my human nature, I am “hard wired” to make judgements. I find myself making hundreds of judgements every day. For example, “Do I have time to pull out before that car gets here?” I decide “Yes” and pull out. The other person speeds up and I slam my brakes. My mind screams, “You jerk!” or worse, sometimes much worse.
I have just harshly judged my fellow man. This is the simplest example of my human nature and the daily battle that rages within me.
In today’s gospel, Our Lord calls us to act in accordance with our divine nature which reflects that we are made in the image of God. Jesus says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
I have accepted that I will never become “non-judgemental” because to do so would be a denial of my human nature.
However, I can and will try to become more merciful in my judgements…more forgiving in my nature…more reflective of the divine image of the one who created me.
And, in trying, the best I can hope for is that by the end of my life, I will be less judgmental and more merciful to everyone I encounter, and they and God will be more merciful to me.
“For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.” Luke 6: 38