The Reading
Luke 6:27-38:
Jesus said, “I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
The Collect
Let your Spirit, O Lord, come into the midst of us to wash us with the pure water of repentance, and prepare us to be always a living sacrifice to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reflection by Rev. Richard Pelkey
Let your Spirit, O Lord, come into the midst of us to wash us and prepare us. Wash us and prepare us. We continue on in our journey through Lent seeking to be drawn closer to God. Wash us and prepare us. Our journeys are often seen as personal and private affairs. Wash us and prepare us becomes wash me and prepare me. However, Jesus reminds us that this journey is not taken alone. It happens in community. And even more, Jesus tells us that how we relate with our enemies is a strong and challenging marker of how our journey towards God is going. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you…” Love your enemies. Loving family and friends; that is easy. Love your enemies; that seems impossible. But it is possible. As Jesus said from the cross of his executioners, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” What an amazing act of love! What an example for us to follow. So, in this Lenten season, O Lord, let your Spirit wash us and prepare us, so that as we move about in the world as vessels of Your Love, we may love all your children, even our enemies. Amen.