Ten days from now, March 6, 2019, we observe Ash Wednesday,
the beginning of Lent. It is not too
early for us to begin considering what we will take on or give up during
Lent. Most of us give things up – eating
meat on Fridays, sugar and sweets, alcohol and tobacco, television, movies,
computer games and other forms of entertainment. Others of us take on something - attending
daily mass, spending an hour before the Blessed Sacrament, participating in the
Stations of the Cross, or praying an extra Rosary. These are all laudable endeavors. In today’s gospel, Luke 6: 27 – 38, Jesus
gives us some challenges to consider in these days before Lent.
I call these the iron challenges (like Iron Man
competitions). For us it can be the Iron
Christian Challenge:
- If you
are angry with someone or about something – give it up.
- If you
hate someone or something – give it up.
- If you
are judgmental or condemning – give it up.
- If you
are hurt because someone has wronged you – give it up.
- If
there is someone you need to forgive – forgive them.
- If
someone hates you – forgive them.
- If
someone is angry with you – apologize.
- If
someone is your enemy – pray for them.
- Be
generous with everything you have and expect nothing in return.
- Love
everyone the way God loves you.
If we can accomplish these challenges, Jesus promises us
that “your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for
he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked” (Luke 6: 35). And he
reminds us that “the measure with which you measure will in return be measured
out to you” (Luke 6: 38).
Compassionate God and
Father,
you are kind to the ungrateful,
merciful
even to the wicked.
Pour
out your love upon us,
that with good and generous hearts
we
may keep from judging others
and learn your way of compassion.
We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
AMEN.
