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Gospel: Luke 6:36-38
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be merciful, just as 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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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If you have ever played a video game, then you know that there is always a series of levels.
The first level is the easiest, and the final level is the hardest. Sometimes it takes multiple tries before you succeed in beating that final level.
But if you do, then you’ve mastered the game.
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If Christianity were likened to a video game, then today’s Gospel would be part of that final level: stop judging; stop condemning; forgive without limit; love wholeheartedly.
If you can do these things then you’ve mastered most of Christianity.
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Perhaps the most difficult part is forgiveness.
While we have the right to be angry when wronged, countless studies have shown that withholding forgiveness affects our own physical and mental health, hurting us more than anyone else.
What makes forgiveness so hard is the fact that, when we forgive, we forfeit the right to be angry with a person, waiving all opportunities to play passive aggressive; to weaponize our silence; to “win” an argument; or to seek revenge.
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If you can do this – if you can truly forgive – then you’ve mastered part of Christianity.
If not, an honest effort is progress.
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Image credits: (1) npr.org (2) medium (3) Nelson Mandela