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. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Epiphany 7 Yr C
Comments:
02192025: You have interesting thoughts on all this. How do live with, or deal with, the anger I have at the politics in our country now? I can manage with the one-on-one relationships OK (could be more generous, more compassionate, etc.,) because I am in charge of my response, but what is happening now politically is out of my control. What do I do? I end my prayers asking God to protect our country, but I'm not sure it's working.
021822022: This passage is so relevant these days! In our country and the world, there is very little love, only judgment, greed, and hatred. People are extremely divided between "we'' and "they". There is very little listening and dialogue, only shouting, alas,
Introduction
Introduction
As many of you know, I tend to sing all the time: music is always on my mind (and always has been). Years ago, I saw Disney's Pinocchio. Such a delightful and meaningful story. And I latched onto the song "I've got no strings." Remember the lyrics? "I've got no strings / To hold me down / To make me fret / Or make me frown. / I had strings / But now I'm free / There are no strings on me." [yes, I heard you singing too!] I hope you were smiling and your toe was tapping as you recall this song.
Fast forward to today. What does "Got no strings" have to do with Luke's lesson. At first glance, this is about loving your enemies. But I urge you to look again at the passage. Specifically notice that Jesus is saying that when you offer something to another in love, "don't ask for something in return." Give your coat . . . and your shirt. Offer one cheek . . . and then another. Somebody takes your stuff . . . don't ask for it back. Further Jesus admonishes: No judging. No condemning. This is unconditional love. Love with no strings attached.
Before continuing, I draw your attention to the title image today: a hand extended in peace to an enemy's fist. What is your response. The fist is demonstrating a hard "no yield" line; the hand out-stretched is seeking dialogue.
It's hard for me not to say, "Well, I helped you out, now you help me out". It's difficult for me not to judge. But that's exactly what Jesus wants from us—each one of us. I have been working on myself. How about you? and where do you find it difficult? When you feel you've adopted the "no strings attached" way of life, lighten your spirit by singing "I've got no strings" from Pinocchio. Very liberating. Comments welcome.
Luke 6:27-38
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. . . . “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.”
sermons4kids: “Jesus taught that loving one another, even people we don’t get along with is really important. And one way we do that is to treat others how we want to be treated.”
Scripture: February 23, 2025—Genesis 45:3-11, 15 (image); Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42 (image); 1 Corinthians 15:35-38,42-50 (image); and Luke 6:27-38 (image).
Collect: O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Reflection: How has God sent you to be a preserver of what is good and healthy? How is your family living up to the wisdom that Joseph showed in caring for the people of Egypt and, eventually, even his own kin?
(excerpted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year B, Volume 1 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press)
A video/audio journey through the scripture.
Images enhancing
the scripture
“Hidden enemy” by Sander Steins
“Love your enemies” by Timothy Schmalz
“What? Love our enemies? How is this possible?” from Catholic Anchor website
Music founded
in the scripture
“Your Love Divine” by Richard Smallwood
“Love divine, all loves excelling“, congregational hymn
“If ye love me” by Thomas Tallis
Other voices
about the scripture
Commentary , part I, sermon from Desiring God website
and part II
progressive Reflection from Huffington Post website
Movies representing some part of the scripture
“The ultimate gift” (2006, PG), “a journey that inheritance cash can't match”, what is really important in life, Review
“Angela’s Ashes” (1999, R), “I wondered how my brother and I survived”, "soul-shattering effects of poverty", story of immigrants returning to Ireland following the death of their 7 year old daughter, Review
“The Hurricane“ (1999, R), story of man sentenced for murder he did not commit, about hope, story of potent force of small doses of hope, love is more powerful than hate, Review 1, Review 2
"Your love divine" by Richard Smallwood (link under "Ear Worms" above).
Not uncharacteristically, Richard Smallwood has captured the essence of Luke's gospel lesson: "Help us love those who would do us wrong, / send Your cleansing power from above. / Unite our hearts as one, / make us vessels for the flow through of Your love." These lyrics echo our sentiments when we are asked by God to "love our enemies": Please help me know how to do this.
What is also characteristically Richard Smallwood are the tight harmonies and almost breathless presentation of the music. Listening, it almost sounds like the singers breathe after each word. I find this to be fascinating. Further, the music feel different, almost urgent, to my soul. Let me know what you think.
If you'd like to read about one hymn in particular, let me know.
For families: Study guide and activities (former guide); group activities; snacks, kid video
For children: activity—see guide/activities above (another); bulletin; craft—This is a lift-the-flap craft to remind the children of Joseph’s love and forgiveness. Cut out or punch out the ears of corn, the silver cup, and the heart found here.
For middlers: activity—see guide/activities above (another); bulletin; craft—see children's craft.
Coloring pages: Genesis; Love; Luke
For youth: Do you think Jesus goes too far asking us to "love our enemies"? Boy, is that ever hard to do. Have you had an experience when it was almost impossible to do? How do you help yourself to "do what Jesus would do"? Share your thoughts.
Again, the theme of Epiphany, the manifestation of Christ, is the focus of the liturgy. The “sermon on the plain” continues today with Jesus teaching about the way members of God’s kingdom relate to other people. Here our behavior is to reflect God’s behavior toward us. We are to love, to forgive, and to be generous because God loves us, God forgives us, and God is generous to us.
In the first reading, a model of forgiveness and love are given in the story of Joseph and the ten brothers who had sold him into slavery. Joseph’s forgiveness is unconditional and is the means by which God saved the people of Israel for their future vocation.
In this last portion of I Corinthians, Paul continues to explain the resurrection. Here he is confronting a notion held by some in that congregation that human beings are purely spiritual beings trapped in sinful, material bodies and that certain people with special spiritual gifts can escape their material existence. Paul’s message is that human beings are material but are destined, through the resurrection of Christ, to be raised themselves with spiritual bodies. It is only through the dying and rising of Jesus, not through special knowledge or gifts, that this can take place.
It is always God whose actions come first. Jesus is the manifestation of God’s generous love and forgiveness. Our response is to show forth that divine love and forgiveness in our own lives. We are to be epiphanies of God’s love to the world. We find God’s love revealed in the Eucharist and we in turn are sent forth to embody that love in our lives.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.
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