…the ideal of the great contemplatives…is to become “modes of the Infinite.” Filled with an abounding sense
of the Divine Life… they wish to communicate the revelation, the more abundant life, which they have received.
- Evelyn Underhill, Mysticism”
(Our common vocation.)
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1 COR 8:1B-7, 11-13; PS 139:1B-3, 13-14AB, 23-24
LK 6:27-38
Jesus said to his disciples:
"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
the wicked.
Be merciful, just as also 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."
Reflection on the Scriptures |
Luke 6: 27-38 (Love your enemies)
Jesus never denies that we will have enemies, but he does command us to recognize our enemies .as fellow children of God. How to love those with whom we disagree and who oppress people is
one of the most challenging tasks facing Christians today. If we do not meet this challenge, we shall be no different than animals who respond kindly to those who treat them well.
* Do you believe that Christians should do something to
resist evils present in the world? Do you believe that such resistance should never be violent? Why? Why not?
* How do you feel when your efforts at kindness are unappreciated by others? Why should you persist in kindness? What will happen
to you if you do not persist?
* Pray for the strength and wisdom to learn to resist evil in a loving spirit.
Revelations of Divine
Love - by Julian of Norwich
Fourteenth Revelation, Chapter 52
“We have now matter of mourning: for our
sin is cause of Christ’s pains; and we have, lastingly, matter of joy: for endless love made Him to suffer”
AND thus I saw that God rejoiceth that He is our Father, and God rejoiceth that He is our Mother, and God rejoiceth that He is our Very Spouse and our soul is His loved Wife. And Christ rejoiceth that He is our Brother, and Jesus rejoiceth that He is our Saviour. These are
five high joys, as I understand, in which He willeth that we enjoy; Him praising, Him thanking, Him loving, Him endlessly blessing.
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