Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

February 24, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: 1 Samuel 26: 2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23

Psalm: 103

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 45-49

Gospel reading according to Luke 6: 27-38

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Homily:

Jesus explained further what he meant in his “beatitude” (blessedness, happiness), particularly the fourth saying: “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. . .” (Lk. 6: 22), on account of him.  Jesus came and talked to his disciples about the goodness and mercy of God.  He gave them and us deeper meaning of this blessedness by doing good to others as God did to us.  “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you’.” (Lk. 6: 27-28). He instructed the great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people and us as well not to retaliate to others’ hatred but rather return love to them who hated us.  He even said to do good to them; bless them also instead of giving curses back to them; as if Jesus is telling us never fight back but instead pray for them.  When they hated us, discarded us and treated us without respect even though they are our children, brothers and sisters, parents, relatives, neighbors and friends, we have to pray for them for the enlightenment of their mind and change of their heart.  Forgive the wrong they have done to us.   For example, Archbishop Jose Palma, DD, bishop of Cebu City “urged people not to lose hope amid the continued killings” (PDI, News, “Church: Reject bets backing death policies,” February 17, 2019, p. A3). “We need God’s grace,” he said.  He said the spate (series) of killings in Cebu must not stop people from praying.  “Many are killed and yet we should not waver in seeking God’s help. Let us continue praying,” he said (ibid.).  Let us pray for our enemies, as what Jesus told his disciples.

There are some people whose hands are very heavy (mabigat ang mga kamay) as a saying goes.  They slap other people’s faces with or without any reason, especially when they are not in good disposition.  They find it easily to hurt someone physically.   “To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic” (Lk. 6: 29).  Jesus said to offer the other cheek when somebody strikes you on one cheek.  This does not show any cowardice or weakness but Jesus is showing us how to stop the cycle of violence.  Even someone is taking your cloak; give also your tunic without withholding it.  Just think maybe that s/he needed it most than you do.

Whether friends or enemies, when you see someone needing something you have and asking it from you, give without expecting s/he will return it back to you. “Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back” (Lk. 6: 30).  When someone is asking you for help, extend your hands to him/her.  Who knows someday when you too need a help, s/he whom you helped might help you too, despite s/he is your enemy.  “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Lk. 6: 31).  Jesus is saying this golden rule to do to others what you would like them to do to you.  Nothing will be lost to you if you extend help to others, rather you will gain friendships. 

He gave also some comparisons, contrasts and judgments on this beatitude.  “For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners love those who love them” (Lk. 6: 32).   First is about love versus hate or rejection.  Because you were hated by others, you will love only those who like and love you.  There is no merit on that because even those sinners show love to those unlovable, how much more we Christians who cannot love those unlovable.  Jesus is counted us on his commandment of love.  Outside our circle of friends, they are pariahs (outcasts) in our affection, those who do not love you, they too are excluded, (hindi papansinin o kikilalanin), which is not what Jesus wants us to do.  Second is about doing good to those who do good versus avoiding giving and sharing good to those who do not do good to us.  “And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners do the same” (Lk. 6: 33).  If we do good only to those people who do good to us what is the difference as to sinners who do good to others who are in need?  Jesus wants us to do good beyond our limited acquaintances and friends.  He is saying to us to extend our goodness to others. Third is on lending money without expecting of paying back rather than of repayment.  “If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount” (Lk. 6: 34).  If we lend money to others expecting repayment in return what merit we have got with that for even sinners lend money with expectation of receiving payment of debt.  When we lend money do not expect that our debtor will pay us back.  If s/he pays us back well and good, but if not regard it as help and support to his/her needs.

Then, Jesus gave us summary of this beatitude.  “But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked” (Lk. 6: 35).  He said, love your enemies.  Do good to them.  Lend money expecting nothing back.  In return of doing these, he said our reward will be great, we will become children of God Most High.  He then describes God the Father as kind to the ungrateful and wicked people.  If we do what God do to the ungrateful and wicked, we will become children of Him.     

The center of Jesus’ teaching which described also who this Most High Lord God is, that God is merciful, so he asked us that we too become merciful.  “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Lk. 6: 36).  When we are merciful to others, we do not judge or condemn others; we become forgiving followers of Jesus Christ.  “Stop judging and you will not be judged.  Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.  Forgive and you will be forgiven” (Lk. 6: 37).  Stop judging, stop condemning and the cycle of violence will stop too, and love and mercy remain.  In the end of his sermon of the beatitude, he said: “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” (Lk. 6: 38).  The giving we extend to others, especially to those who hated us or to our considered enemies, will return to us as a gift or reward, more than what we are expecting, more than what we have given, as what Jesus promised, a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing.  Thanks be to God!