SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
(I Samuel 26:2.7-9.12-13.22-23; I Corinthians 15:45-49; Luke
6:27-38)
Today's gospel touches on a very pressing political issue in
recent years. Read carefully, it can lead us to a greater compassion for immigrants and a policy to lessen a world-wide crisis.
Jesus is in the middle of his “Sermon on the Plain” in the
Gospel according to Saint Luke. It is the counterpart to the more famous
“Sermon on the Mount” in the Gospel of Saint Matthew. In truth, neither
comprises a complete sermon. Rather, both are compilations of various sayings
of Jesus organized around different themes. In Saint Matthew Jesus chooses the
mountain to deliver his high teachings on morality. Saint Luke reserves the
mountains for prayer and has Jesus giving moral lessons on a plain.
We heard the first part of the “Sermon on the Plain” last
Sunday. Jesus announced four beatitudes consoling the oppressed and four “woes”
warning the oppressors. Now Jesus focuses on divine love; that is, love that
seeks nothing in return. It gives of itself simply to help the other. The
surprising thing is that Jesus requires his disciples to practice this kind of
love toward their enemies as well as their friends.
Enemies are not only those who would harm us but also those
who threaten our interests. People in rich countries often see immigrants as
enemies who want to take advantage of the resources of their adopted land
without contributing proportionally. In Italy for many years the Roma, often
called “zincari” (the Italian word for “gypsies”), have attracted the
opprobrium of the people. Roma women can be seen begging in public places with
their children. Meanwhile, their men have the reputation of being pickpockets
and thieves. Generally, Italians resent the Roma and want them deported. The
ethics that Jesus proposes in the gospel urges another stance. He calls on the
disciples to support the Roma. This may be in direct aid or in contributions to
charities that care for the poor.
Right now the entire world is focused on what the president
of the United States will do with the millions of undocumented immigrants in
America. Will he begin mass deportations, or will he limit his extraditions to
those undocumented who have committed crimes? In this gospel Jesus is
addressing individuals, not governments. However, it can be said that deporting
millions of people would reflect a stance of disdain and abuse, not gospel love.
The second part of the reading has to do with the treatment
of one's neighbor - that is, an acquaintance who might ask us for a loan.
According to Jesus, we should respond in favor of this type of person, not
react against him. It is really the same kind of response that we should give
to our enemies. Instead of worrying about our own interests, we should act with
the true interests of other people in mind. In short, as children of God, we
are to treat everyone as the One who blesses everyone.
Certainly the Gospel of St. Luke has exquisite stories and
portraits of Jesus. We hear of the Prodigal Son and of Jesus forgiving the
“Good Thief” in this gospel alone. But the beauty of the images that the gospel
leaves us does not diminish the vehemence of Jesus’ demands in this gospel. In
fact, it increases their force because only with divine love -- a strong love
that seeks nothing in return -- are we going to become people with everlasting beauty.
Only with divine love, are we going to become sons and daughters of God.