Reflection: Luke 6:36-38

Monday of the Second Week of Lent – Luke 6:36-38

Today’s message from Jesus is not an easy message to receive. Jesus is telling his disciples (and us) to be merciful. Jesus instructs us to be merciful as His Father is merciful. What a challenge this may be. The call to be merciful is not an easy or desired call!

I assume we all are merciful in our own way. Perhaps we do good works. We may volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul, the Food Pantry, or simply help out a neighbor who is in need. Or we may donate to our church, work with the Scouts or teach Religious Education. There are many and varied ways that we can contribute to making the world a better place.

However, part of Jesus’ message today is a very personal one for us and yet it may be a difficult message to hear. Jesus also instructs us to be merciful. Yes, part of being merciful may be doing good works. However, Jesus primarily challenges us and instructs us to stop judging, criticizing and condemning others. And we are to forgive the individuals who have hurt us! Ouch!

It may be fairly easy for us to give of our time, treasure and talent. However, to forgive someone who has hurt us deeply is a huge challenge. We simply may not want to forgive. We even might want the other person to suffer for what they did to us. Yet, if we truly wish to follow Jesus, we have to forgive. There is no other option. Most likely, we will never forget, as the memory is stored in our minds and hearts. However, we do have a choice. We can choose to be merciful and forgive the other person---and in the process, we also may free ourselves!

Can you remember someone who has forgiven you for something that you did to hurt them? What a wondrous gift they gave you. The gift of forgiveness frees both parties. When the person who is hurt forgives the other, they can move forward in their lives freely. They no longer will be tethered to the hurt and anger they had been carrying. And the individual who is forgiven also is freed and graced!

I assume we all have been hurt by others and in turn, we also have hurt people in our lives. If someone forgives us for the pain we have caused them, what a great gift we have been given! Today, may we seriously ask ourselves: am I willing take the step to forgive (insert name)? The answer may not be an immediate yes, but we will have opened the door and taken the first step!

Today, may we pray for the grace we need to take a first step! And may we pray for each other that each of us will have the courage and strength and move towards forgiveness. If we do so, the other person will be freed and we also will be freed. What a great gift to give to the other person, ourselves and our world!