Jesus gives His disciples a challenge. He tells them: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you.” However, Jesus does not stop there. He continues: “If someone strikes you on one cheek, offer your other cheek to them as well. If a person takes your cloak, give him your tunic also.”
Today Jesus is calling us to examine ourselves and ask: Do I do unto others as I would like them to do unto me?  We likely have varying responses. “I try to live this way, however, there are some people who simply drive me crazy.” Or I might say: “I can do that with most people but there is one person who deeply wounded me, and I simply am unable to forgive that individual.”
Jesus then says: “If you love the people who love you, what credit is that for you? Even the pagans do this. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Quit condemning others and you will not be condemned!” Jesus then states: “Forgive and you will be forgiven. The measure you give will be the measure that is returned to you.”
These bluntly spoken words are difficult to hear. They may challenge us at the deepest level of our being. Most likely, each one of us has been wounded, betrayed or rejected at differing times in our lives. If this person was a friend, this wounding typically is amplified since we trusted this individual. However, each one of us also has wounded or betrayed individuals in our life. It is all part of our human condition.
Jesus doesn’t ask for miracles nor does he want “play” forgiveness. He continually invites us not only to free the individual who wounded us, but also to free ourselves from the pain, anger and hurt that binds us. Jesus is patient and yet persistent. He continually invites us and calls us to forgive. Perhaps today we can take one small step in this direction.

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