Reading Luke 6:32-36 (NRSV)
In today’s reading, Jesus gives his disciples instructions to distinguish themselves from others. Instead of just loving people who love them, doing good to those who do good to them, and lending to people from whom they will get a payback, the disciples are to love enemies, do good, and lend money without expecting a return.
According to Jesus, loving when it’s easy does not count for much. Following Jesus means loving when it’s difficult or seems unrewarding. After all, God created and loves all people, even the ones who do not thank God for life or who seek to destroy it.
Reading this passage reminded me of a talk I gave at a recent ceremony. Our educational program was sending a class of health care students out to their first clinical experience. I reminded students that compassion for their patients was as vital to effective health care as knowledge and skill.
I should have added that effective health care professionals have compassion even when patients are not very likable, or seem ungrateful, or even destructive.
Effective disciples of Jesus go further. They distinguish themselves by loving all people whether they are lovable or not.
How effective are you at loving like God even when it’s difficult?
Let us pray. Loving God, thank you for showing us mercy when we act in ungrateful or destructive ways. Help us to imitate you by loving others, doing good, and lending a generous hand even when it’s difficult. Amen.
Scripture to Life 