First, my apology for getting the lessons out of order. This past week I posted about the Scripture for next Sunday, October 18, and skipped the Scripture for yesterday, October 11.

I now see my error (which started as a formatting mistake in my notes), so for this week, rather than skip the passage for yesterday, I will post some thoughts on Luke 6:27-36. I trust you don’t mind too much.

I.
This passage has some very familiar words, “Do to others as you would have them to to you.”

Take some time to read over the passage slowly several times. Jesus begins by, “… I say to you that listen.” Let’s listen to him today. Listening not to what you expect to hear but to what he says to you.

II.
Luke 6:27-36

“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.”

III.
Now that you have the passage in mind, look through it and pay attention to Jesus’ commands.

What commands do you find?

You might want to make a list of what behaviors Jesus is putting before you. Yes, let’s make a list.

Now read over the list you made and highlight the behaviors that are second nature to you. Or if not yet second nature, at least ones that you practice in your life. Maybe you don’t practice them regularly, but you know they are within your power to do.

Got that?

Ok, now pick out the behaviors that you find hard, or out of range for you to do. Why are these behaviours hard? Do they not make sense to you? Or, maybe it just points to something that is not in your nature?

What do you think?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}