Thursday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time
Col 3: 12-17; Luke 6: 27-38
Dc. Larry Brockman
So, are we all to become pushovers? Is that what Jesus is asking us to be? Because it would seem that there are plenty of folks in this world who are poised to just take and take and take from us until we are left with nothing at all ourselves. Just what is it that Jesus is asking of us?
First, let us recognize that Jesus spoke many times in hyperbole, meaning, in an exaggerated way. He did that to make a point. And Jesus point this morning resonates well with Paul’s message. They are both making the same point, that “as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do”.
You see, we all hope to be forgiven by God of whatever sins we have committed. And we all hope to be treated by God with love and generosity so that we may be happy forever with Him in the next life. Our trials in life are there so that we can learn to be like God in whose image and likeness we were created. If everything went perfectly in this life- no trials, no suffering, no challenge, what kind of fortitude and strength would that develop in us? Not much.
But as it is, because sin entered the world, each of us is subjected to trials and tests; and suffering and temptations. God sent His only son Jesus to live and dwell among us to show us the way, so that we can emulate the master, the Lord Jesus Christ. And what did he do? He sought out God’s will for him and trusted in it by being obedient. It meant he didn’t have much by the world’s standards. Ultimately, he endured persecution, suffering, and death. But he exhibited a loving and forgiving attitude the whole time, accepting His cross with dignity and resolve.
We need to treat others the same way Jesus treated them. That means we need to treat others the way we would like to be treated. That doesn’t mean we have to roll over and be pushovers. But it does mean we have to prioritize things in our lives like Jesus did. We have to stand up for what is right, uncompromisingly. That’s not being a pushover. We need to be generous and sharing of what we have. But it is not always money and goods- it can include time, affection, attention, knowledge, and our talents. And we have to be willing to suffer with dignity when it is the will of God- in sickness or physical disability, or mental trials, or whatever the clocks of time dictate. And finally, we need to be patient and enduring when others push us- like people cutting in on us in traffic, or nagging and persistent contacts we have with people. It’s all part of being human and learning what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God.
Think about the way you hope to be treated by God. Well, that’s the way we need to treat others because “If we love one another, then God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us”. And that is where we should all be trying to get in this world.