Dig Deeper into this Sunday’s Gospel: Read Luke 6:27–38
With utter humility, I admit that I am profoundly weak willed. Let me explain.
On most days, I consider myself a good Christian. I desire intimacy with our Lord. I feel at home in the pages of Scripture. I long for a reverence and relationship with Christ that seeks Him first above all else.
However, the daily examen I’ve recently begun notes otherwise. Reflecting upon my day, noting where my will is rightly aligned with the Lord’s, where I’ve veered off in the direction of my own selfish desires, I am glimpsing how weak and decidedly uncharitable I am to others and myself.
I cannot read or hear this week’s gospel proclaimed without feeling woefully convicted.
God is patient and abounding in mercy and love for us—thank God for that! However, as I become more aware of my shortcomings in relation to God's grace and glory, I'm noticing (in black and white, and sometimes pink, on the pages of my journal) how my motives, emotions, and actions often do not align with the Lord’s. I recognize that I am failing to love as He loves. This realization deeply convicts me, and I'm determined to do better.
As Christians, we are all called to love as He loved us, and this call extends beyond actions. One important way to embrace this is by reading and reflecting on this week’s gospel passage. In it, Christ provides us with a recipe for holiness and a path to charitable love, which, when we persevere in following, will better reflect His image to the world.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.”[1] “The practice of all the virtues is animated and inspired by charity … it is the source and the goal of [the] Christian practice … [Charity] raises [our human ability to love] to the supernatural perfection of divine love.”[2]
To be true bearers of Christ’s image in this world and to accept the call of holiness He has extended to us, we must transcend human charity.
We cannot rely solely on charitable actions, such as turning the other cheek, giving to everyone who asks, or lending money without expecting repayment. To truly follow Christ’s radical teachings and go beyond worldly charity, we must align not only our actions with His will but also our motives, emotions, and thoughts with His divine order. It is not enough to act in charity and love alone. A beginning, yes. But we mustn’t stop there. We must sincerely desire the well-being of others, especially when they are our “enemies” or those who are different from us. We must embody love.
“For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them” (Luke 6:32).
It is not enough to call ourselves Christians if we are only loving and charitable to those who are easy to love, to those we agree with, or to those who share our values, faith, social strata, political ideology, race, employment record, or immigration status. That’s playing it easy, safe, and comfortable.
Most assuredly, Jesus did not play it safe or easy, nor was He very comfortable. Transcending our human nature requires stretching and moving out of our comfort zone—all of which feels risky and less than comfortable. However, what the Lord urges us to remember in the gospel reading (to bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you, love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you), we find modeled for us in Christ’s life, ministry, passion, and death.
As Christians today, I wonder if we can start to consider more than just the question, “What would Jesus do?” If we aspire to holiness and desire to emulate our Lord, ought we to also ask, “What would Jesus think, feel, and do?” Even more importantly, shouldn’t we contemplate, “Why would He think, feel, and do that?”
Spoiler alert: We are not divine; we face human limitations and very real temptations to sin. We will entertain those critical and judgmental thoughts. Our actions won’t always match our motives. We will fall prey to pride and self-aggrandizement. Jesus knew all of this. He understood living out His radical charity would be difficult for us. Impossible for us, but not impossible for Him.
Fortunately, if we feel challenged by this gospel message, the Holy Spirit is likely already at work within us. If we want our motives, emotions, thoughts, and actions to be sanctified and aligned with the Lord's will, we have strategies to employ.
As the Catechism explains, charity is a theological virtue, which means it is already present in abundance within us. Through our Baptism and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the virtue of charity has been instilled in our hearts. It is already there. It just needs the green light—our invitation.
Enter the Holy Spirit who is prepped and ready to activate this divine virtue. With His movement in our hearts, we will start recognizing when we fall short of true charity. Then, with this awareness, we can exercise self-control and prudence—also inspired by the Holy Spirit—choosing to realign with Christ, choosing to love as He does, embodying radical charity.
Oh, but when we fall short—and we will—we have the unending gift of Christ’s merciful love to which we can turn. When our motives become more self-driven than selfless, when our thoughts lean toward judgment, when we find ourselves engaging in gossip, when our pride is piqued, or when we feel regret for acting falsely, we can seek Jesus in the confessional. In Reconciliation, Christ meets us with an endless supply of mercy and grace. He reminds us that the measure with which He measures out to us is always rich in compassion and overflowing with kindness.
In Christ’s mercy,
Jeannine
Food for thought or journaling …
Let’s try a daily examen using Luke 6:27–38.
Have I encountered anyone today whom I find it difficult to love or act charitably toward? How did I respond to them? Did I actively seek to show compassion and kindness?
Have I experienced negativity, criticism, or harsh words from anyone today? How did I respond? Did I act defensively, internalize their words, or respond with a positive attitude, choosing to believe the Lord’s words about myself—that I am beloved and chosen?
Did anyone ask me for help today, whether in a small or big way? Did I freely give my love, kindness, and compassion without expecting anything in return?
Are there any people toward whom I am holding resentment or anger? Even if they haven’t sought my forgiveness, can I offer them mercy and ask the Lord for the strength and grace to forgive?
What areas do I find most challenging when it comes to living out the teachings of Jesus in the gospel?
Lord, help me see beyond my desires and limitations. Grant me the strength of will and self-control to actively choose to love those I find difficult to love, to forgive those who have wronged me, and to respond to challenges with grace and generosity. I offer to You, Lord, all the moments today in which I failed to love as You have loved me. Please forgive me for acting out of selfish gain instead of solely to serve You. I ask You to purify my motives, will, and emotions so that I may grow in virtue and be merciful to others just as You are merciful to me. Amen.
[1] Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd edition (Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2012), #1822.
[2] Ibid. #1827.
