Gospel Reflection for The 11th day of September in the year of Our Lord, 2025
Luke 6:27-38
27 But I say to you that hear: Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you. 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them that calumniate you. 29 And to him that striketh thee on the one cheek, offer also the other. And him that taketh away from thee thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also. 30 Give to everyone that asketh thee, and of him that taketh away thy goods, ask them not again. 31 And as you would that men should do to you, do you also to them in like manner. 32 And if you love them that love you, what thanks are to you? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if you do good to them who do good to you, what thanks are to you? for sinners also do this. 34 And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thanks are to you? for sinners also lend to sinners, for to receive as much. 35 But love ye your enemies: do good, and lend, hoping for nothing thereby: and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest; for he is kind to the unthankful, and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. 38 Give, and it shall be given to you: good measure and pressed down and shaken together and running over shall they give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you shall mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.
This is one of those seemingly impossible commands of Jesus. Honestly, can any of us truly be so forgiving and charitable as Jesus commands? He suffered unthinkable torture and died for even the worst among us. For Jesus, there was no calculation of risk. Had there been, He could have just revealed Himself to the Jews and left all pagan, gentile people to their own chosen fate. But, He died not only for the faithful Jews who loved God, but for the worst sinner and even the cannibals and those who worshiped demons. He died for the Romans who would destroy Israel and persecute the early Christians. He died for people in distant lands who never even knew His name. Beyond that, He gave us the Church knowing that those He loved most would die in their ministry to all people.
Human nature is to care for yourself and your own family above all else. In times of war, one might risk his life for his country. But, any man will break laws and even betray his country for the sake of his own family by nature. Very few of us are so self sacrificing as to give our own lives, or the lives of those whom we love, for strangers. But, honestly, it is even harder to satisfy the second part of this command. To forgive a family member who has betrayed us is nearly impossible. It is for the very reason of that family bond that it is so difficult.
Jesus said that we must be perfect, as God is perfect. That is not humanly possible. But, with God all things are possible. Jesus knows this. He knows that often all we can do is to ask God to forgive the person who has hurt us. We pray in the Our Father that God will forgive us as we forgive others. Sometimes all we can do is to ask God to help us forgive. We cannot do it on our own, but the good news is that Jesus never asked us to do it alone. Very often, He gives us crosses too heavy to carry. We must ask Him to help us carry our crosses. He already took on the penalty for all sin. He has already suffered for each issue we face, whether we ask Him or not. By admitting our weakness and asking for His help, we honor His sacrifice. Our God is not distant and anonymous. He is here now, He is real and He is more personal than we may be comfortable with. When we ask Him not to take away the cross but to help us carry it, we need never doubt that He will be with us personally every step.
Judson Carroll is the author of several books, including his newest, A Daily Catholic Devotional, Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings July-December, 2025 It is Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5BHFZ7X
and
Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith. It is also Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK
His podcast is The Uncensored Catholic https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-uncensored-catholic
The Lord bless you mightily for this message! It is so easy for us to let Satan win by turning to anger, hate and unforgiveness. Jesus gave us the path to follow to defeat Satan when suffering and dying on the cross He said, "forgive them for they know not what they do".
Excellent message Judson. The part most meaningful, and which I often forget: "By admitting our weakness and asking for His help, we honor His sacrifice." Thank you for reminding us.