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Gospel Commentary – September 11, 2025
Yesterday I said that Jesus is radical in His teaching. Well, today’s Gospel text is also a clear sign of that radicality. There is no room for ambiguity, no “maybe,” no “sometimes.” The statements are clear and forceful. One example says it all: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
What is the reason for Jesus’ radical demand? There is only one: we are all children of God. And consequently, we are all brothers and sisters. That means even my enemies, those who hate me, those who curse me, those who mistreat me—they are my brothers and sisters. Toward them, I should have the same attitude that God the Father has toward me: mercy, compassion, forgiveness, understanding, generosity. Our behavior toward others—and toward ourselves as well—must resemble the behavior that God the Father has toward us: forgiving as He forgives, being compassionate as He is compassionate, not condemning because God does not condemn but saves, giving generously because the Giver of life has freely given us everything we are and have.
Throughout the history of the Church—and throughout the history of our own personal lives—we have been very good at finding exceptions and excuses so as not to feel bound to fully live out these words of Jesus. We have often chosen a path of prudence that is far from Jesus’ radical call. For example, we have defended war and the death penalty—hardly examples of fulfilling what Jesus teaches in today’s Gospel.
The text ends with what may seem like a threat but is really just a description of reality: “The measure you give will be the measure you get back.” That is why it is always better to err on the side of generosity and mercy than to fall into the opposite.