The Measure
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 6:27-38 - Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.
“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
There are so many wonderful things to reflect on in the Gospel today. Instead of having a reflection provided for us, like usual, instead today we are going to slowly reread the first sentence and the last paragraph of the Gospel passage. When we do so, let’s each pick one thing that stands out to us individually (for example: loving our enemies, or forgiving others) that Jesus mentions, and focus on that for our prayer. It could be a word, a phrase, an idea, a character, an action, a principal, etc. But this is actually just how Christian meditation is done. When we pray alone, for instance, we should: 1) read until something strikes us, 2) reflect on why this stuck us or how it relates to our lives, 3) resolve to put that principal into practice in a concrete way in our lives. So let’s listen again to see if anything sticks out to us in a particular way. Afterwards we can reflect for a time. Then we can make a resolution.
“To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you… Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you… For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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