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Gospel Reading for September 10, 2026 – Luke 6: 27-38
RETALIATION
Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be greatnand you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful. “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken downr , and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
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One of the most difficult things for us Christians to do is to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us. At first glance, it seems as though we would be out of our minds for doing these things. But when we see through the eyes of God, we realize that this is exactly what should be.
These are the best things we can do to break the vicious cycle of RETALIATION, which is the cause of endless conflicts and wars. They are also the best way to have inner peace and true happiness in life.
Jesus teaches us this simple logic: we do unto others what we expect God to do unto us. We always expect God to forgive us for the wrong things we do against him. Therefore, forgiving others for the wrong things they do to us is also what he expects from us.
Lord Jesus, teach us to be like you on the Cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Amen.
