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Manila Bulletin devider Reflections devider Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful

Published Mar 6, 2023 03:14 am

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Today’s Gospel from Luke combines the ending of Jesus’ teaching on the love of enemies (6:27-36) and the beginning of the passage about Jesus’ teaching on being non-judgmental (6:37-42). We are challenged to be merciful like God the Father. Likewise, we are called to stop judging others should we wish not to be judged. Being merciful will help us to set aside any harsh judgment against anybody. We should bear in mind that the more we exercise mercy, the less judgmental we become. If God, who has all the reasons to condemn us, remains to be forgiving (Ps 130:3-4) and merciful (Ps 145:8), then who are we not to be merciful and who are we to judge one another? In the end, “mercy triumphs over judgment” (Jas 2:13). But first, mercy must triumph over our life as children of the merciful God. How judgmental are we in our day-to-day life? Do we really recognize that we are all children of the merciful God? Are we living up to our being members of God’s family by trying not to be judgmental of others?

Gospel • Lk 6:36-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “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; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
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