My world can be transformaded ik I take Jesus seriously

My world can be transformed if I take Jesus seriously. 

Good morning, happy Thursday, and many blessings.
 
In yesterday’s Gospel we read and prayed on ‘Luke’s beatitudes’ which teach us that if we are poor, insulted etc. in the service of God, we are blessed because we have been chosen to serve God in this outstanding way. Today’s Gospel (Luke 6:27-38) develops the theme of what the following of Christ involves. It involves first and foremost following the example of Jesus and the evangelist’s use of exaggeration reinforces the teachings, for example, never return evil for evil; be good to others without hoping for anything in return. The teaching in this section seems odd and impossible to follow and hence we have a ‘way out’ but if we grasp the meaning of the metaphor, we understand the very difficult but realistic demands of the Gospel.
 
For many people, even those who identify themselves as Christians, this may be one of the most difficult passages in the Gospel. It seems to express an idealism that is totally unrealistic and unattainable.
 
We live today in a world of great violence, of terrorism, of increasing litigation – suing and counter-suing, violence and murder, of vicious vendettas often stirred up in the tabloid press and other media, the horror of terrorist attacks on the innocent. Are these things not to be avenged? Where do Jesus’ words fit in?
 
This text ranks as one of the most extraordinary ever written! It utterly reverses human thinking about enemies and forgiveness. It spells out the way God goes about things, holding nothing against us despite all our failings. This is how Jesus lived, this is how he died for his executioners. His attitude of heart was blessed by God and brought him into eternal life.
 
I learn from this that my world can be transformed if I take Jesus seriously. My task is to collaborate with him and to live on a higher level of loving than I had imagined possible. I am called to go beyond loving my neighbor as myself, beyond loving only those who love me, beyond only loving nice people. I am to love my enemies, do good to them, pray for them, wish them well! What then shall I pray for now?
 
Jesus uses extreme language to highlight the importance of our relationships to one another. We are to deal with others, mindful of how we ourselves have received the good gift of forgiveness from God. This reminds us of the words in the ‘Our Father’, ‘forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us’. When one has difficulties with others, it is good to pray for oneself, to know one’s own faults, if any; and to pray for the others, that they may receive the grace from God for their better self to emerge. Do to others as God has done to you.
 
Jesus invites us to respond to the world as he did – loving, blessing, praying, and offering. We are called to do this not only where there is something of which we approve, but in all circumstances. Today, I ask God to remove any way of seeing which causes me to distrust, to judge, to condemn or to hold back.
 
Blessings
 
Fr. Luis+