DEMONSTRATING the RULE of LOVE

 

MAY 24, 2023

Luke 6:38 

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

Matthew 6:12 

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

1 Peter 4:8

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

where there is injury, pardon (forgive);

where there is doubt, faith;

Some of Jesus’ final hours were spent in the garden praying. You will recall that while he was praying, a Roman regiment of soldiers arrived, along with some Pharisees and his disciple, Judas Iscariot. This was to be the moment Jesus was betrayed. After Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss, Peter takes out his sword to fight. My take on this is that Peter was wanting to inflict some heavy damage on someone, perhaps kill someone in the regiment. But he misses and takes off the ear of Malchus, the high priest’s servant. (see John 18:10-11)

In these emotionally charged moment, notice what Jesus does. Jesus delivers love in the form of healing Malchus’ ear. It was as if there was too much hatred, anger, violence brewing around him. The rule of love had to demonstrated.

I wonder what you do when you feel you are in the midst of hatred?

When was the last time you observed someone sharing love amid hate?

Was there a time in your life when you delivered love?

Was there a time when you were the one delivering hate?


The next line of St Francis’ prayers says,

where there is injury, pardon (forgive);

The picture of Christ on the cross is a cruel one. He was killed in front of crowds of people and nailed to the cross. While he was bleeding out and near suffocation, he looked to heaven and said, “forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

When you read the line in Francis’ prayer, “where there is injury, pardon (forgive),” what does it speak to you?

Can you remember a moment in your life when you sowed forgiveness amid pain?

Is there a moment when you watched a friend, family member, or stranger sow forgiveness amid pain?

Take time to consider what this would look like in your life today.


In the final line of St. Francis’ prayer for today, he writes,

where there is doubt, faith;

 Have you ever had a moment when someone put faith in you?

What did it do for you?

What did it feel like?

Have you ever been the one to put faith in another?

Do you remember what that felt like?


I believe the challenge that St. Francis left to all of us, is this:

Who can you sow love toward today?
Who can you forgive?
Who can you put faith into?


“Give and you shall receive, good measure, pressed down and running over.” Luke 6:38

Perhaps you do not know much about St. Francis of Assisi, below is a short clip that introduces his beautiful story.