Quasimodogeniti Saturday - Devotions in Exile

The daily lection for Quasimodogeniti Saturday:
Exodus 32:1-14     Luke 6:20-38

I am very saddened that those who put together the Daily Lectionary decided to end this text from Luke with the verse they did, and that you have to wait until tomorrow to finish it. So, I am not even going to address the elephant in the room, one of the most often mis-quoted passages of Scripture. But, at least I have your attention to read tomorrow’s devotion…you are welcome.

Today we will look at a few verses in the reading that truly cause us to squirm a bit. If you are familiar with the Scripture, you remember that the first table of the law (which has to do with our relationship with God) was summarized by Jesus, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30) The second table of the law (having to do with our relationship with all people) He summarized by saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mk 12:31)

What happens next is that we try to justify ourselves and ask, “OK, who is my neighbor?” Your neighbor is the person next door, but it is more than that. Your neighbor is every single person God has created to share with you, His creation – ALL  PEOPLE!!!

Now we can truly look at the words of Jesus that we are tasked with considering today.

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. 31 Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (vv. 27-36)

You are to love your enemies and do good to those who hate you.

You are to bless those who curse you.

You are to pray for those who mistreat you…

…and the list goes one.

In that list is this misquoted gem, “Treat other the same way you want them to treat you.” And you KNOW how that is misquoted, and in many ways.

This is how THE  SON of the Most High treated all people, especially His enemies. He loved those who hated Him and hollered out, “Crucify Him,” unto death – dying to purchase their forgiveness.

From the cross, He blessed them (you), begging His heavenly Father to forgive them, even as they cursed and mocked Him, praying for them (you) as they (you) mistreated Him.

When they struck Him in the face, He did not strike back, but allowed them to strike Him again.

He loved them (you), just as He desired them to love Him.

He allowed them to take His clothing, all of it.

He did good to all those who did evil to Him, to those who mocked Him, spat upon Him, jeered Him, denied Him, nailed Him to the cross – even to you.

He did all that He did expecting nothing in return, from them (you).

In fact, He expected that all He did for His creatures would be returned with disobedience. He expected that those whom He loved with all His heart, mind, soul, and strength – yes, with His very life – would not love Him in like manner.

He did this to redeem you, to forgive you for your failures to do unto others as He has done unto you. He did all that He did to free you from sin and death.

But His commands still stand. They stand because that is what children of the heavenly Father do as obedient children.

Now we can truly look at the words of Jesus that we are tasked with considering today – we can see them as those who have been freed from past disobedience to them by the very blood of Christ. We are freed from our sins to hear His Word to us with joy and peace, with the desire to love as we have been loved by God.

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. 31 Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (vv. 27-36)

We pray:     For our Christian lives, that we would be granted faithfulness in times of temptation, repentance and forgiveness when we fall, love for all our brothers and sisters in Christ, reconciliation with those from whom we are alienated, and boldness to confess the faith we have in Christ. Amen.