Be merciful

0:00

Today is Thursday the 10th of September, in the 23rd week of Ordinary Time.

Slow down as you enter into prayer today. Jon Guerra will guide us into today’s scripture with the song, ‘Love Your Enemies’. Draw to mind the ways in which God has loved you throughout your life so far, even during those moments you perhaps didn’t feel like you deserved it...

Give to everyone who asks of you

Be good to everybody, no matter who

Do to them as you would have them do to you

Love your enemies

No greater love is there than this

I laid down My life, and I would do it again

I gave it to you, so give it to them

Love your enemies

Love, love

Love your enemies

And be children of your Father in Heaven

Children of your Father in Heavеn

Turn the other cheek, put down your fists

Give up your coat if somеone asks for it

What have you got that you were not given?

Give everything

And when the sun sets on your labour

Turning the tides, but not in your favour

Love is a rescue and it'll save you

For love, love

Love your enemies

And be children of your Father in Heaven

Children of your Father in Heaven

If you love those who love you, what good is it?

What good is it? What good is it?

If you hate those who hate you, what good is it?

Well, it's no good, no good at all

If you love those who love you, what good is it?

What good is it? What good is it?

If you gain the whole world, but lose your soul

Well, it's no good, no good at all

It's no good, no good at all

Oh, love, love

Love your enemies

And be children of your Father in Heaven

4:17

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 6:27-38

‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.’

7:00

This is among the hardest teaching in the Gospels: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, lend expecting nothing back. It asks for a freedom from calculation that does not come naturally to any of us. Who is the enemy, or the difficult person, who comes to mind as you hear this today? What would loving them without expecting anything in return look like, practically, this week?

Jesus grounds this teaching not in willpower but in likeness: ‘Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.’ We are not asked to generate mercy out of nothing, but to let flow towards others something of the mercy we have already received. Can you remember a time when you were shown a mercy you had not earned? How did that change what you were able to give to someone else?

Listen again, and notice which line feels most impossible, and which feels most like an invitation. What happens when you stay with both?

10:17

Luke 6:27-38

‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.’

12:59

Speak honestly to God about where this teaching feels beyond you and ask for the grace to be made capable of it, little by little, rather than all at once.

15:05

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen