Stretching Our Limits
Luke 6: 27-38
“But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you, if anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt, Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again. Don’t judge. Don’t condemn. Forgive and also give. What a stretch we must make to live this way consistently. I have often heard a quote by noted businessman Max De Pree that stated, “We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.”
There are a multitude of moments that stretch us and fill the memories as we move through our lives. They range from the small and routine to the major milestones. As I look back, what a journey of growing, transforming and becoming we are gifted each day. There were moments in my own family that stretched us and molded us to move beyond what we felt were our limits. While I am not able to fully express them all in words, there is something about the power of God’s love for us that grows us, stretches us and moves us into actions and beyond any limits that separate us.
Many years ago, there was a toy called “Stretch Armstrong”. It could be pulled, bent and stretched almost without limits. My son and nephews were completely fascinated by this toy. So much so that they stretched it just so that they could find out what was on the inside. There are times in this life where we will be stretched by people, circumstances and conditions. It is then that we reveal the divine treasure within us. Perhaps the hymn writer expressed it best when they wrote, “Something on the inside, working on the outside, I feel a change in my life! Love on the inside, working on the outside, I feel a change in my life!”
Stretch a little today and never forget, “A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
prayer
Lord, let me love; let loving be the symbol of grace that warms my heart, of grace that warms my heart; and let me find thy loving hand to still me when I tremble at thy command to love all humankind. Lord, let me love, though love may be losing of every treasure I possess. Lord make Thy love the pattern of my choosing. And let Thy will dictate my happiness. I have no wish to wield the sword of power, I want no man to leap, to leap at my command; Nor let my critics feel constrained to cower, feel constrained to cower for fear of some reprisal at my hand. Lord, teach me mercy; let me be the winner of every man’s respect and simple love. For I have known They mercy, though a sinner. Whenever I have sought Thy peace above. Lord, let me love thy lowly and the humble, Forgetting not the mighty, the mighty and the strong; And give me grace to love those who may stumble, to love those who may stumble, Nor let me seek to judge of right and wrong. Lord, let my parish be the world unbounded, Let love of race and clan be at an end. Let every hateful doctrine be confounded That interdicts the love of friend for friend. Amen.
(“A prayer for Love”, C. Eric Lincoln, “Conversations with God”, James Melvin Washington, Ph.D.)
Daily Lenten meditations each have a companion morning prayer video offered by the same clergy. View the YouTube playlist to find this meditation’s companion video, or to watch others.