This week’s gospel challenges us to be forgiving, compassionate and generous in the same way that God expresses abundant love. It challenges us to act against cultural and social expectations. Jesus tells his disciples to love their enemies and to do good to those who hate them. His instruction is contrary to the ‘normal’ way of doing things – and that’s exactly the message Jesus wanted to convey! Rather than a spiteful, vengeful God who keeps score and punishes wrongdoing, Jesus presents a compelling image of a God of unbounded compassion and abundant generosity.

Compassion of God is a very strong theme that runs through the Gospel of Luke. Throughout the gospel, the compassion and mercy of God is emphasised and a defining feature of the gospel is the number of healings and parables that relate to people who were regarded as the outcasts of society. In this gospel, Jesus is the embodiment of God’s compassion. Jesus wants all people to experience first hand the abundant love God holds for them. Today’s gospel passage is a reminder that when we experience God’s compassion we are also called to show it to others.

How can you put into practice the call to ‘love your enemies’ and ‘do good to those who hate you’?