SO THIS IS LOVE

“For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” – Luke 6:38

       In December 2003, Scott Neeson found himself in Cambodia’s Steung Meanchey garbage dump trying to help Srey Nich, a sick nine-year-old girl picking through the trash to collect scraps that she could sell to buy food. Just then his cell phone rang. As the president of 21^st Century Fox International, he received a call from the agent of a star client. The actor was complaining because the private jet he was about to use lacked his favorite amenities. He was yelling, “My life wasn’t meant to be this difficult!”

       Scott looked around him at the humid, stinking garbage dump with children suffering from typhoid and made his decision. He gave up his million-dollar salary and A-list status and went back to Phnom Penh to set up the Cambodian Children’s Fund.

       By allowing himself to be moved with compassion for little Srey, Scott has eventually provided housing, education and health care for thousands of children living in the slum areas. What does he get in return? Scott said, “I’ve got more love in my life than I ever thought existed.”

Reflection: “Love in your heart wasn’t put there to stay. Love isn’t love till you give it away.” (Oscar Hammerstein II)

Merciful Father, move my heart with compassion. Grant that I may be compelled to show that love through kindness and sincere service.

St. Agnes of Bohemia, pray for us.

What is it about God who does not give up on Israel? Israel is constantly unfaithful — disobeying the commandments and following other gods, and yet God continues to be faithful and loving. Why? Because God is love and it is in His nature to forgive and give us another chance. We, too, are beneficiaries of His faithfulness. He forgives our sins time and again. He welcomes us back even after we have strayed far from His will. Let us be mindful that it is we who sin and it is never God’s fault if there is distance between us.

4 “Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments! 5 We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws. 6 We have not obeyed your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers, and all the people of the land. 7 Justice, O Lord, is on your side; we are shamefaced even to this day: we, the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel, near and far, in all the countries to which you have scattered them because of their treachery toward you. 8 O Lord, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers, for having sinned against you. 9 But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness! Yet we rebelled against you 10 and paid no heed to your command, O Lord, our God, to live by the law you gave us through your servants the prophets.”

R: Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

8 Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may your compassion quickly come to us, for we are brought very low. (R) 9 Help us, O God our savior, because of the glory of your name; deliver us and pardon our sins for your name’s sake. (R) 11 Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you; with your great power free those doomed to death. 13 Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; through all generations we will declare your praise. (R)

Judging others is a dangerous habit as we invite a similar judgment from God. We have to take a stand on whether an act is objectively sinful or not but we do not need to act in a judgmental way towards the person concerned. Let us forgive rather than judge, to set free rather than bind someone to judgment. Leave the judging to God who is going to do a better job than we ever will.

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.

36 Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. 38 Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

think: Let us forgive rather than judge, to set free rather than bind someone to judgment.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Revelations 1-3

GOD’S COMPASSION AND FORGIVENESS

Our First Reading today is actually a prayer, imploring God for His mercy and compassion. But it is far more than just asking Him for something. There is a humble acknowledgment that “we have sinned” and also a self-deprecating statement, “We are shamefaced.” At the same time, there is a shift of focus, so as to ascribe mercy and sympathy to God: “But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness!”

       Give credit where credit is due. On our own, we have nothing to claim except our sins and transgressions. God alone is merciful and compassionate. Until we make this clear and truthful acknowledgement, there will always be confusion and misunderstanding as to His attributes and role in our lives.

       And yet, as our Responsorial Psalm puts it, we also have the courage to “break the rules,” asking God to go beyond the usual confines of His attributes when it comes to our sinfulness. For how else do we have the guts to ask God, “Do not deal with us as our sins deserve”? If mere human logic were the rule, we won’t stand a chance at all. But thanks to His compassion and mercy, there is hope.

       That is why we, too, must not judge and condemn others. Shifting to the positive, Jesus advises us, “Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you...” The typical one-to-one correspondence of human logic in this case works. “The measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

     Moreover, God will not be outdone in His magnanimity and generosity: “A good measure, packed together, shaken down and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.” Still, the basis and starting point is our fundamental correspondence to God’s ways, as far as mercy and forgiveness are concerned: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How have you experienced God’s compassion and forgiveness in your life? Have you extended the same to those around you?

I have sinned against You and my brothers and sisters. Grant me, Lord, Your compassion and forgiveness.