Today,
Luke's Gospel proclaims a dense and short message —very short,
indeed!— that can be summarized in two points: a frame of mercy
and a contents of justice.
In
the first place, a frame of mercy. Jesus' order, indeed,
prevails as a rule and glitters all around. A most definite norm: if
our Father in Heaven is merciful, we, as their sons, ought to be
merciful, too. And our Father is so merciful...! The previous verse
asserts: «(...) And you will be children of the Most High, for
he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked» (Lk
6:35).
Secondly,
a contents of justice. We are, indeed, facing some kind of
“Talion Law”, in the antipodes (opposite to) of the one
banished by Jesus («Eye for eye, tooth for tooth»). Here,
in four successive moments, our Divine Teacher exhorts us, first,
through two denials; afterwards, with two affirmations. Denials: «Do
not be a judge of others and you will not be judged; do not condemn
and you will not be condemned». Affirmations: «forgive
and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you».
Let's apply these
premises concisely to our daily's life, as Jesus does, by stopping
especially in the fourth advice. Let's examine, clearly and
courageously, our conscience: if in family, cultural, economic and
political matters Our Lord would judge and condemn our world as the
world judges and condemns, who would stand up in his Tribunal? (When
we get back home and read the newspaper or listen to the news, we are
basically thinking of the world of politics). If Our Lord would
forgive us as we, men, normally use to do, how many persons and
institutions would reach full reconciliation?
The
fourth advice deserves, however, an additional thought, as the good
Talion Law we are considering, becomes overcome in some way. Indeed,
if we give, shall we be given in the same measure? Most definitely
not! If we give, we shall receive —let's take good note of it—
«a good measure, pressed down, full and running over» (Lk
6:38). And it is in the light of that blessed disproportion that we
are exhorted to previously give. Let's ask ourselves: how much do I
give, do I give properly, do I give enough, do I give by choosing the
best, do I give fully...?
