A sermon on Luke 6:27-38

By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
St. Mary Catholic Church
St. Benignus Catholic Church 
St. Mary Queen of Heaven
and Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Everyone suffered during the four years of World War II. Not only our soldiers who were willing to die for our freedom, but also the people back home who made sacrifices to support our troops. 

My mother told me it was near impossible to buy shoes. She said, "My first date with your father was so embarrassing. I had to tape my shoes to keep them from falling apart. Your father then showed me his shoes. They had so many holes he filled them with newspaper. We both laughed. After that, I knew he was the right man for me."

They married four months later and stayed married for 74 years. Every Oct. 6, Dad bought Mom new shoes on their wedding anniversary.

There is a story about a 10-year-old boy gazing through a shoe store window, shivering with cold. He was barefoot. 

A man approached the boy and said, “My little fellow, why are you looking so intently through that window?” 

“I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,” was the boy’s reply.

The man took him by the hand and went into the store. He told the clerk, "Get this young man new shoes and 10 pairs of socks."  

The boy couldn't take his eyes off the shiny black shoes adorning his feet. He even wore black socks to match. The only black socks the boy ever wore were white tube socks that turned black from dirt. The man patted the boy on the head and said, “You look so spiffy!”

As the man turned to leave, the boy grabbed his hand. The 10-year-old was astounded by the man's kindness. He looked at the man with grateful, puppy dog eyes and asked, "Are you God?"

Today Jesus is asking you, "Are you my disciple? If you agree to follow me, this is what you must do. What Jesus asks you to do is difficult. But if you do them, your reward will be great in Heaven. Here they are:

1)  Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

2) If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. The word "slap" does not mean a physical slap. It means "insult." Do not retaliate an insult with another insult.

3) Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. The "everyone" refers to people who are strangers you may not know. Sometimes Jesus calls you to give to them knowing you will not be repaid. Jesus said to give to those who do good for you is easy. It isn't special. Even sinners do it. God doesn't give a big reward for that.

4) But love your enemies, do good to them and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great. God says this is what makes you a true follower of Jesus. Jesus says this is what makes you a true child of God because that is what God does.

5) Be merciful as God is merciful to you.

6) Don't judge. You got your own sins to work on. Judge yourself, not others.

7) Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  God says there is a direct connection between how you act to others and how He will act to you. "For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Jesus summarizes his "to do" list for the disciple in this one sentence: "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Jesus compels you to step beyond your world and look out for others. In your judgment, God will treat you in the same way you treat others. The next time you go to a restaurant, you better tip your waitress well. God does not like stingy tippers. Blessings.