"As you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." (Luke 6:31)
This line from Sunday’s Gospel makes us think how we want to be treated by others. When we sin or make mistakes, we deeply wish to be forgiven, to be given another chance, rather than being written off, without hope for the future.
Jesus grants this wish, he always forgives us. And he also lives out all the other commands of mercy in this passage: he "blessed those who cursed him" when he gave paradise to the crucified thief who had been railing at him; he "did good to those who hated him" when he healed Malchus’ ear, sliced off by Peter’s sword in Gethsemane; he "prayed for those who persecuted him" with the staggering words, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do"; he "offered the other cheek" and "gave his tunic" to the Roman soldiers preparing his execution.
