What credit is that to you?

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic
The Works of Mercy


Greetings on this the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13; 1 Corinthians 15:45-49; Luke 6:27-38

Praying for Pope Francis

Latest news: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-02/pope-francis-morning-23-february-2025-health-gemelli-hospital.html

Summary

In our Gospel portion today Jesus asks the same question three time.

What credit is that to you?

  1. For if you love those who love you, even sinners love those who love them.
  2. And if you do good to those who do good to you, even sinners do the same.
  3. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount.

The observation Jesus makes has three initial components.

  1. Everyone has the capacity to express the divine love.
  2. Everyone has the capacity to express the divine good.
  3. Everyone has the capacity to express the divine forgiveness.

Jesus is asking us to expand to its proper capacity our God-given ability to love, to do good and to forgive.

Jesus said to his disciples: To you who hear I say:

  1. Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.
  2. Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
  3. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well.
  4. From the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic.
  5. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.

Jesus says do like your heavenly Father:

  1. Love.
  2. Bless.
  3. Do no harm.
  4. Share all goods.
  5. Give with openness.

These are characteristics of you and do not require the good in others. They do awaken the good in others.

Be Something New

  1. Be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
  2. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Jesus calls us to ‘Be’. To Be is a frame of reference (how we approach charity) and a state of being (the desire to be charitable) in every circumstance and situation.

Discard What is Not Helpful

  1. Stop judging and you will not be judged.
  2. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.

Give Something New

  1. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
  2. Give, and gifts will be given to you.

Psalmist Reminds Us of Unconditional Love

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.

We are not God. We are made in the image and called to the likeness of God. The Psalmist captures how the Lord is with us and all who seek forgiveness. And, therefore, how we are to be to one another.

Where do we start?

  1. Stop judging.
  2. Stop condemning.
  3. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
  4. Give, and gifts will be given to you.
  5. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022325.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

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