Radical Love: The Sign of Our Intimacy
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Luke 6:27-38
To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 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.
Grace Prayed For
This scripture passage prompts us to pray for the grace to love radically, allowing the transformative mercy of God to permeate our hearts and actions. We pray for the grace to see every person, especially those who challenge us, through the eyes of Christ, and to respond with his love, kindness, and forgiveness.
Reflection
Dearest Jesus, this passage is both beautiful and challenging because it reveals the very heart of who you are and who you call me to be. You don’t just ask me to be kind; you call me to a radical, transformative love that goes against everything the world teaches. This isn’t a list of impossible rules; it’s an invitation to a deeper intimacy with you, a chance to partner with you in the divine work of restoring creation. You loved me when I was still your enemy, when my heart was cold and distant from you. You did good to me when I was ungrateful and undeserving. This isn’t just a story from a book; it’s my personal story of how you have loved me into life.
You, my intimate friend, are the source of this love. I can’t love my enemies on my own. I can’t offer my other cheek without your strength. But in our intimacy, in the quiet of my heart where I meet you in prayer, you pour your love into me. You teach me to see others not as adversaries, but as your beloved children, hurting and in need of the very mercy you’ve shown me. This passage is a blueprint for living out our friendship. It’s an act of worship to be merciful, just as the Father is merciful. Every act of forgiveness, every moment of not judging or condemning, is a powerful “yes” to our partnership.
And the promise! “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.” This isn’t just about money or material things. It’s about a spiritual abundance that flows from our intimacy. As I give your love away, you fill me up with more of it. My heart expands to hold more mercy, more compassion, more of you. My baptismal mission is to be a vessel for this overflowing love, to let it spill out into every corner of the world, restoring relationships and bringing light to the darkest places. Because you have loved me so deeply, I can’t help but want to share that love with everyone I meet.
Announcing Jesus in Our Lives
Evangelizing in Daily Life
You can evangelize in your day-to-day life by simply living out this radical love. Your baptismal mission to partner with Jesus in restoring creation can be fulfilled in simple, yet profound ways:
- Practice radical forgiveness: Choose to forgive the small slights and annoyances you encounter throughout the day. This act models the radical forgiveness Jesus offers.
- Refrain from judgment: When you hear gossip or a negative comment about someone, choose not to participate. Instead, offer a kind word or simply stay silent. . This act reflects God’s merciful heart.
- Offer genuine mercy: In a disagreement, instead of insisting on being right, offer a word of understanding or seek reconciliation.
- Practice generosity with your time and attention: Give a coworker your full attention when they need to talk. Take the time to listen to a difficult family member. This is a form of “giving” that “gets back” nothing in return but builds up God’s kingdom.
- Pray for others, especially those who hurt you: This is a powerful, intimate act of love that partners with Jesus to transform hearts, including your own.
By living in this way, you fulfill your baptismal mission, proclaiming the Gospel not just with your words, but with the very mercy and love that define your relationship with Jesus.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post