Is it better to be smart, or to love? I think we all know the answer to that, right? In the opening verse of our first reading today from 1 Corinthians 8, St. Paul says it like this: “Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.”
Today’s Gospel reading from Luke 6 is one of the most difficult in all of Scripture. Not difficult to understand; it is quite simple, really – but difficult to live out. “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
We’re so often harsh in what we measure out others. Yet we expect God to treat us differently. We judge others harshly, but expect God to judge us lightly. We condemn others, but expect God to go easy on us. We refuse to forgive, yet we expect forgiveness. We’re stingy with others, but we expect God to be generous with us. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. God is a just judge, and the scales of justice will balance out.
Father, we’re so sorry for how harsh we are with others. Help us today to be loving, compassionate and merciful. Amen.
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