Measure for Measure

Gospel: Mark 4: 21-25

The admonition of Jesus in today's Gospel portion represents an empirically verifiable principle of religion and spirituality.  The measure we use to measure others will be used to measure us.  The judgment we heap upon others will redound to us.  So, if our religion is about condemning others to death, bombing and invading other nations, mistreating peaceful people who disagree with us, and vilifying and deporting immigrants, we are likely to face such judgment against us as well.

On the other hand, if our religion is about love and mercy, we are likely to receive such in our lives too.  So, if we are about the work of providing food and drink to the hungry and thirsty; clothing the naked; sheltering those who are homeless; visiting and providing comfort to the sick and imprisoned; and welcoming and caring for immigrants, refugees, and migrants - we too will receive such mercy and love in our lives.  

We then have an important choice to make in the life of religion.  The type of religion we choose has consequences for ourselves and in the life of other people.  The choice to judge others has negative consequences for many people, and eventually on ourselves.  Likewise, the choice to show mercy and love to others has positive outcomes for so many others, and for ourselves as well.  Jesus chose the path of love and mercy, and so must we.