Luke 6:27-31 NRSVue
27“But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; 28bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you. 29If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.”
Some thoughts on this scripture
Reflection
Jesus seems to expect more from us than the ‘do unto others what you want
them to do to you’ attitude, which is itself a high level of morality. He
asks for generosity and charity as well as justice. The central quality of
the Christian stance to others is mercy which covers over faults and
fallings, not denying them, but always offering another chance to others.
Reflection
Tough words from Jesus about those whom we dislike or have done us wrong.
There is an invitation to move on from hurt and bitterness. There are many
other times when Jesus talks in his stories about development and growth. But
by bit our heart can be turned towards kind and understanding thoughts and
even feelings towards the enemy. One step towards the freedom from bitterness
is to pray for people who have done us wrong, wittingly or unwittingly.