Reflection on the Gospelof the Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time |
Luke 6:27-38 |
The Mosaic Law followed the principle of ‘an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth’ but Jesus pushes the envelope from legalistic justice towards love and justice with mercy. Jesus knows that all the brokenness, suffering, injustice, abuse and greed, is a result of a world that has lost genuine unconditional love. Sinners are imprisoned by their ego, it makes them walk insecurely but surely towards destruction of self and the people whom they interact with.
It is Love that brings healing to the wounded spirit, hope to the suffering, insight with wisdom, it makes peace possible and forgiveness earns freedom from the dark imprisoning evils. Love doesn’t mean ignoring discipline or correction. Love empowers justice where people have mutual respect for each other as children of God. The justice of God therefore involves guidance through correction, to set right what has been done wrong. All of us make a judgment call daily, whether we know it or not and sometimes we harshly condemn people without reflecting if we have been guilty of doing the exact same thing. Can we really preach love if we cannot inspire others to love?
