Jesus makes known the Father who is full of mercy and is kind. He wants all those who hear him to live as true sons and daughters of the Father.

The Twelve, many disciples and many other folks are still with Jesus. But as he goes on to teach, he does state those whom he addresses. And they are not just the Twelve and his disciples, but all those who hear him. For, as he will point out, the Twelve, the disciples, the plain hearers, are all the Father’s sons and daughters.

So then, Jesus tells those who hear him that to be just is not only to return love for love.  Good for good.  To be just is also to return love for hate, good for evil.

Besides, to be just means to give in such a way that it shocks, upsets others who think it crazy. For to give in this way is to lose face in pain and shame. Or to share what one owns until the one who shares ends up naked or owning nothing.

Yes, what Jesus teaches us is so hard to believe, so far from the usual, that we call it radical. Yet he sees it in another way: not so much radical as that it has to do with our having one Father (Comentarios al Evangelio #3).

In other words, since we are sons and daughters of the Father, we are to do more for each other. Just as he does more than what we hope for. He is kind to sons and daughters who do not thank him and who do evil. So, we should also be kind to brothers or sisters who do not thank us and who do evil.  And we are to show mercy, just as our Father shows us mercy.

Yes, for sons and daughters to be right before their Father, they must do right by all brothers and sisters.

Lord Jesus, you are a true Son to our Father. And a true brother to us all, so much so that you gave up your body and shed your blood. Grant that we may also be true sons and daughters of the Father, and brothers and sisters to each other. Help us to grasp that being right before the Father and doing right by our brothers and sisters is its own reward. May our bliss be no more and no less than being like our Father and being proud of him. Make us show mercy, as mercy is what or who he is (SV.EN XI:328). And do not let us do harm to a brother or sister. Give us a share, too, in your being from heaven.

23 February 2025
7th Sunday in O.T. (C)
1 Sam 26, 2. 7-9. 12-13. 22-23; 1 Cor 15, 45-49; Lk 6, 27-38