Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C - 20th February 2022 

Gospel Luke 6: 27–38

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening:

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the one who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the one who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the one who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’

"Running over"

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I come to prayer seeking a space clear of inner distractions and clutter, to allow the silence of my soul to deepen. I ask the Holy Spirit to make me more attentive and receptive to my compassionate Father.

I read Jesus’s challenging words slowly, meditatively. I notice and attend to any word or phrase that ‘shimmers’ or lights up with meaning for me.

I savour it, and allow my response to unfold.

I listen in silence for God’s voice ... God’s personal invitation in my particular life circumstance. I speak to my Lord Jesus about what arises.

As I read again, I may feel drawn to cry out to my Father to help me respond to Jesus’s teachings, even if the idea of forgiveness described in this passage feels far beyond me.

Perhaps I yearn to be compassionate as my Father is compassionate ...

I beg for God’s tenderness to grow in the depths of my heart, and for his full measure of gifts to run over into the world ...

I rest in the presence of God and end my prayer slowly with a Glory be.

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