Believing in other people’s goodness

Luke 6:37  "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven;38  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." 39  He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? 40  A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. 41  Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 42  Or how can you say to your neighbour, 'Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye.

This is an invitation to live generously. Based on the premise that “the measure you give will be the measure you get back" the followers of Jesus are invited to live without the need to put other people down.  The challenge for today is for us to believe the best of those around us.

Ordinary 23 / Pentecost +16

45 Forgiveness

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 276.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.