“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:32-36
“Speak to each man individually, following God’s example; bear the infirmities of all, like a perfect athlete of God. The greater the toil, the richer the reward. If you love only your good disciples, you gain no merit, rather you must win over the more troublesome of them by kindness. The same salve does not heal all wounds…Do not be overwhelmed by those who seem trustworthy and yet teach heresy. Remain firm, like the anvil under the hammer. The good athlete must take punishment in order to win. And above all, we must bear with everything for God, so that He in turn may bear with us.”
Ignatius of Antioch (d. 108) in Polycarp as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 504.
This wisdom is sweeter than honey and more precious than gold.
“Speak to each man individually.”
What great advice! Generosity toward people is treating them individually. And this does not just pertain to those we love, but it means we show kindness to even the most troublesome.
“Bear the infirmities of all.”
Our most generous witness comes into view as not as solving people’s problems but helping them bear them. This includes people undeserving of our care. Remember Jesus says when we care for such people we are “children of the Most High.”
“The same salve does not heal all wounds.”
Imagine have different salves up your sleeve to meet the unique needs of others. That’s a beautiful picture of generosity. And if it stopped there it’d be great advice from this “apostolic father” and martyr from the early church.
“Remain firm, like the anvil under the hammer.”
So, what do you do when people around you are difficult and even spreading the wrong message. You stand strong. You take a beating and keep on going.
“We must bear with everything for God, so that He in turn may bear with us.”
Wow! What a humbling ending. Lest we get prideful for our service and sharing, our generosity and caring, he reminds us that we bear with everything for God so He will bear with us. Amen.