Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C - Gospel Reflection

Luke 6:27-38

After the death of his wife, a man became verbally and physically abusive towards his children. One by one they left the house as soon as they reached the appropriate age, cutting off all relations with the man, considering him as good as dead. Finally, only the youngest remained, a young boy of twelve years. Intellectually he struggled, having not received any help from his father; socially he was awkward and regarded as an outcast. He was slow-tempered and quick to smile, showing kindness to all without discrimination, but most especially to his father. As he neared a mature age, he remained with the cruel man, observing his rapidly deteriorating mind and incapability to properly care for himself and his house. The boy became little more than a slave to his own father, but nonetheless bore every ill with a cheerful smile and hearty laugh. Not long after, he and his father were killed in an untimely accident.

            This is the kind of mercy that our good Lord is teaching us today. This is the love with which He reigns His kingdom and that is required of us in order to fully live out our filial duties, as His sons and daughters: “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.” In order to have a place in the Kingdom, we must imitate the King from Whom it was fashioned. In spite of the reward that will be received, we must not follow Christ’s directions solely with this in mind, but out of pure love for Him who made and loves us.

            There are so many evils in the world that it is hard to extend our hearts to those who commit them. Society will tell you that if you are wronged by someone, then they are not worthy of your love and respect. We see this often among families and relationships. We have become so quick to exclude people and banish them from our lives because of the things that they have done to us. It seems reasonable at first glance, for they have rightfully lost our trust. But the heart does not require trust to love. If that is not convincing enough, then all we have to do is look to the love the Christ has shown to us. What good had we given to Him that He would suffer so great of pains during His life for us? It would be a mockery of His Passion not to treat others as He has treated us. After all, He died for them out of the same mercy that He died for us.

            In contrast, the world tells us to do things for our own profit, and we are told that it is good to act according to our own desires: a complete conflict to this self-sacrificing love that Christ asks of us. If we are not careful, we will become caught between the two and trapped in confusion and uncertainty. Therefore, it is important to remember that this life is only a means to our true end, and not the end itself. Everything before us will eventually pass away. With this in mind, it is easier to give of ourselves in service to others, as it becomes clear that personal gain in material matters is of little advantage in the long run. God sees all that we do and He knows our heart’s disposition. He is generous in giving to us our reward in return for that which we give to others, however, this reward is one that will last forever, and so we must wait until eternity to receive it.

            Our God’s love for us is so incredibly great, no words can describe it. When we experience this love, it is hard to do anything but be transformed by, in, and through it. And today, Jesus teaches us what this must look like in the terms of mercy. This is one of the many things that distinguishes us as Christians, so let us not be ashamed of showing our love for Him through mercy towards others. No act of mercy is too low, no person has strayed from mercy’s boundaries. Just as the young boy above, we must look beyond the hurt that people cause us and tend rather to the hurt that may have been done to them. This mercy is what has opened the doors of salvation for us, so we in turn must put it into practice that we might enter through that door.