Measure for Measure: Reflections on the Readings for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
Psalm 103
1 Corinthians 15:45-49
Luke 6:27-38

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The “Golden Rule” can be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church article 1789 in the section on conscience:
1789: Some rules apply in every case: 
- One may never do evil so that good may result from it; 
- the Golden Rule: "Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them."
- charity always proceeds by way of respect for one's neighbor and his conscience: "Thus sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience . . . you sin against Christ." Therefore "it is right not to . . . do anything that makes your brother stumble."

Today’s gospel reading gives us the basis for the Golden Rule. In the readings we also see it put into action in the form of mercy.

The first reading from the First Book of Samuel leaves out some details in order to tell “just the facts.” In a nutshell, King Saul, who has gone against God’s wishes, failing to destroy Amalek (1 Samuel 15), but is still His anointed one is on the hunt to kill David out of jealousy. David was getting more accolades than Saul and it hurt his pride (1 Samuel 18:6-12) and plotted against David. Saul lacked humility and failed to put God ahead of his own wishes.

In a sort of foreshadowing of David’s own later actions, Saul sought to have David lead his armies against the Philistines thinking “I will not lay a hand on him. Let the hand of the Philistines strike him.” (1 Samuel 18:17) When David’s success continued, Saul pursued him in an effort to kill him. At one point David has the opportunity to kill Saul but refuses to harm “the Lord’s anointed,” instead just cutting off a portion of Saul’s robe (1 Samuel 24:5).

In today’s reading David again has an opportunity to kill Saul and stop his persecution but, as before, he refuses to harm the Lord’s anointed. The deep sleep of Saul’s men which allows David to pull off this feat is the result of the Lord interceding on David’s behalf. David’s mercy and respect for the Lord is an example to the rest of us.

In the responsorial psalm we see that David’s act of mercy reflects God’s own being. We repeatedly read that God declares that David is a man after my own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Here we learn that “the Lord is kind and merciful.”

“Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes.” These lines are extremely important for us. How often do we think the Lord has ignored our prayers and supplications, failing to answer us. But His delay is due to His mercy. “The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) Furthermore, we lack patience, wanting an immediate response, failing to remember that God does things in His time, not ours. “But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8)

The reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians is a lesson in typology. Typology in Scripture deals with prefigurement, usually from the Old Testament to the New. In this case Adam prefigures Jesus. Paul cites the differences between Adam and Jesus, noting that Jesus is the heavenly conclusion to Adam’s human beginning. In this way, St. Paul also ties us to Jesus in that with His resurrection, so will we be resurrected. “Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.”

The lessons of mercy, respect for the Lord, and how we treat others comes to a conclusion in the Gospel reading. These directions from our Lord run counter to what we as humans feel and how we want to react to those who seek to harm us. The similar passage in the gospel of Matthew (Chapter 5, the Sermon on the Mount) gives more detail but both require us to love our enemies, pray for them, go the extra mile with them, and be merciful as the Father is merciful.

Article 1789 from the Catechism (quoted above) refers to these portions of Scripture as a basis for the teaching of the Golden Rule. But this is a hard lesson, and one that goes contrary to much of our human feelings. Will praying for them change those who oppose us, especially when our emotional reactions make us want to inflict harm on them? Not necessarily but, as our deacon once noted, “It may not change them, but it will change you.”

This passage is also reminiscent of the Our Father for we shall be forgiven in the same manner as we forgive, measure for measure. “For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Father Menezes, a member of the Fathers of Mercy and a frequent presenter on EWTN, writes “To love your enemies can be one of the toughest imperatives that Jesus gives you. Why? Because it will take a firm and deliberate act of your will to overcome what your feelings, passions, and emotions tell you about your enemies.” Here’s where prayer comes in as prayer is a weapon of spiritual warfare. He continues, “Through prayer and spiritual training, your inordinate feelings, passions, and emotions become subject to your grace-guided and willed directives.” (Fr. Wade Menezes, Stand Firm, Be Strong)

Love is an act of will, not feeling. Even in a romantic relationship ending in marriage, once the excitement wears off you still love the other person but in a deeper way. If you are a country music fan, think of Clint Black’s song about love, “It’s something that we do.”