Monday of the Second Week in Lent
In these last days of winter it is so difficult not to feel ‘weather worn’ from so many months of harsh weather. I am so ready for spring! But knowing that whatever snow, ice, or freezing temperatures come this month is the last gasp of winter brings me great solace. I keep looking outside for a tiny hint of green. Even though I know we are on the verge of Spring, I really like actually seeing the hard evidence. While I was reflecting on today’s readings, I kept thinking how Spring carries such a promise of abundance, just as every promise that God has ever made to us always carries the promise of abundance. But, unlike the Spring I cannot will to appear, God’s promises of great abundance are offered to me at every moment.
Today’s Gospel is an excerpt from St. Luke’s Sermon on the Plain. In this brief passage Jesus is very direct: stop judging and condemning, be merciful and forgive. Jesus says we will be treated just as we treat others. I do not think Jesus wants our primary motivation to be fear of how we will be treated; rather he is giving us a glimpse of how the Kingdom of God works and what being a member of the Kingdom entails. In this context Jesus is talking basically about a change from the inside out—from the heart; he wants us to be motivated by love. One beautiful aspect of God’s Kingdom is described in the passage as well: “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.” (Lk 6:38) The vision of the Kingdom is one of abundance, of unity and loving reciprocity. When I judge or condemn someone or withhold mercy and forgiveness I am not living out the vision of God’s Kingdom. Each one of these things—judging, condemning, and unforgiveness—cause separation and division, not only between other people and myself, but between God and myself as well. Quite frankly, it is rebellion against God and his Kingdom. Rebellion sounds like such a strong term, but it is rebellion all the same. The abundance that God wishes for his people cannot flourish in the presence of such rebellion. A look at today’s first reading from Daniel reveals how rebellion cuts off the abundance of God; the people are scattered, they behave in evil and wicked ways, and they disdain the prophets sent to them by God. The behavior Jesus denounces is just as much an obstacle to God’s amazing abundance.
Despite all this turning away that I do, God keeps his covenant—just as he always did with the Israelites—and he eagerly waits to shower his mercy and forgiveness abundantly upon me. A major turning point for me is when I begin to realize the unfathomable mercy God has shown to me, showing mercy to others becomes a natural response. When I become aware of how many times I have been forgiven it becomes harder and harder to judge or condemn another. In fact when I truly realize how I have been granted such abundance by my God it does nothing less than break my heart—it allows me to love.
Living in the abundance of God’s love eliminates the need or tendency to judge or condemn another in their weakness or withhold mercy or forgiveness from my brothers and sisters. Each day I am given another chance to begin again and each day I can make a choice for abundance or for rebellion. Each day I can choose God or choose something else. If I believe in God and have faith in what He has told me, I will choose God and I will choose God’s abundance.
"Holy Father God,
Please, wake me up!
Make me aware of the times I am inclined to judge or condemn others.
Grant me the grace to choose differently—
to choose mercy and forgiveness instead.
May my life be a reflection of your good measure and abundance,
to the glory of your name
Through Jesus Christ, your Son.
Amen."
--Gail Lyman