Measurements in Compassion

[Luke 6:27-38, 2nd Monday in Lent]

 

How do you measure people?  What criteria do you use to tell a good person from a bad one?  How do you measure love and compassion in Jesus' terms?  The 'good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over...for the measure you measure with will be measured back to you' is all about compassion and not about judgment.

 

We live in a very hyper-critical period in human history.  We judge others on the basis of their weaknesses, failures, and sins and not on the basis of their love, care, giftedness, and mercy.  Success is measured on the scales of how much I have material and not on the kindness of my heart.  But what if everyone was assessed on how well we love our enemies as Jesus command (twice) in today's gospel?  I'm afraid we would all come up short.  WE NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUR ENEMIES.  If Osama Bin Laden were walking down the streets of Northwest Indiana, I don't think it would be long before someone was after him.  It doesn't take the sinister work of someone like him to bring out our inability to measure up.  Maybe it is an ex-spouse, a distant family member, even a next door neighbor whose kids fight with our kids, who we measure as an enemy and fail to be compassionate.  The war for compassion is waged not with angry words or mean glances but with compassionate detachment toward those we just don't like as people.  The battle is won by turning the swords of our hearts into the plowshares of the kingdom by loving those who do not love us.  Words like Love, bless, pray, give, lend, be compassionate, pardon, and forgive are all part of being faithful Christian who measure their lives by the compassion of Jesus Christ.  True forgiveness is based on how we forgive others and let go of hurts, wrongs, mistakes, rudeness, and a whole array of misgivings.

 

True judgment comes in not judging others -- no matter what.  True pardons for our sins come in not condemning others because of their sins.  Non-violence is not as much an action as it is an inner compassionate spirit.  Our compassion allows God to dwell within, the same God who loves the just and the unjust, the sinner and the saint.  As we approach the Holy Season of conversion, let us pray to the God of all compassion to help us measure ourselves by His love and live the compassion he has called us to be!

 

Fr. Terry 2/17/08