The teaching of Jesus in Luke’s gospel this weekend is very challenging for us all in the modern western world. Jesus challenges our human perspectives on the world and especially on people, he turns them upside down and inside out. Jesus also gives us a very challenging path to perfection – mercy.
Mercy is at the heart of Luke’s gospel. Since we live in a time when it seems everyone we read about in the press or hear about in the news wants to get one over on their opposition, all humility disappears. Mercy needs great humility and humility is the antidote to the greatest first and primary deadly sin…pride. Humility allows truth to be revealed. God’s love for us is revealed in all truth when Jesus, God’s son, undergoes the horrors of the cross.
We are also clearly admonished by Christ not to judge. When we judge we tend to be condemnatory rather than merciful. Our witness must be mercy not judgement. Along with this mercy is a call to be a giver. If we are generous with mercy as well as material things we are given a glimpse of the joys ahead…overflowing gifts. Your generosity for Together in Mission is a perfect example of the kind of thing we must do in the here and now, not to merit God’s gifts but rather for him to indulge us with the promise of his overwhelming love.
May God bless you, your families, and the week ahead,
Fr Aidan Peter