Be merciful, just as (also) your Father is merciful. "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." (Lk 6,36-38)
The kingdom that Jesus preached and lived was all about an absurd generosity. He says: Think of the best think you can do for the worst of person, and go ahead and do it.
Jesus is not presenting a list of rules and regulations. He is showing an attitude of heart that his followers should have.
We should be like this because God is like this. God is generous, merciful, forgiving, providing good things to all, etc. In fact this is not a list of things to do for a follower, in stead it presents who God is or what God is.
Jesus showed his God to be different from the other Gods. But over the years we have made Jesus’ God to be like other Gods with rules, liturgies etc.
If all believed in the God of Jesus then there would be no division, no violence, no revenge, no class, no caste, no desire for money and property and possessions etc.
If God of Jesus was within us then there would only be persons, neighbours, friends, forgiveness, sharing – a new world.
