Daily Catholic Lectio. Mon, 17 March ’25. Measure!

Daily Catholic Lectio

Mon, 17 March ‘25

Second Week of Lent – Monday

Daniel 9:4-11a. Psalm 79. Luke 6:36-38

Measure!

One of the key images in today’s Gospel is ‘measure’ (Greek: metron—the root word for ‘meter’ in English). Jesus uses a common practice of His time to teach a life lesson.

In those days, wages were sometimes paid in coins like denarii, but often they were given in dry grocery items like salt, wheat, or barley. If a labourer worked to the satisfaction of the employer, the employer would take a measuring container, fill it with wheat, press it down, shake it, and pour it into the worker’s lap. Since hands would not be enough to hold the grain, the worker would receive it in the folds of his garment—overflowing and abundant.

This act signified generosity without any shortfall or lack.

To give ‘pressed down, shaken together, and running over,’ one must have a truly generous heart. Jesus teaches that one who gives generously attracts generosity from others.

Further, He says: “The measure you use will be measured back to you!”

But does this statement apply even to Jesus? His crucifixion tells us otherwise!

Jesus measured out forgiveness, mercy, and love. But what was measured back to Him? Hatred, rejection, and enmity!

The same happened to Abel, Moses, and Job. Abel offered an acceptable sacrifice to God, yet he was murdered by his own brother. Moses led Israel for forty years, but God denied him entry into the Promised Land. Job, though he was righteous, suffered afflictions.

Our own life experiences may feel the same! 

“No one measures back to us with the measure we use!” We show love, but receive none in return. We offer mercy, but are met with cruelty. We forgive, but face betrayal instead.

How should we understand Jesus’ words?

If we expect to receive the same love and mercy that we give, then it becomes a transaction, not generosity. “I gave; you gave back. The deal is done.”

But when we give without expecting a return, we become like God.

No one can repay God for what He gives. His love is boundless and unconditional. This is Jesus’ lesson: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)

Until His final breath on the Cross, Jesus continued to offer forgiveness and mercy. His measure was immense. He poured out grace pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing.

First reading: Daniel’s plea for God’s mercy

The prophet Daniel acknowledges God’s compassion: “We have sinned against You. But mercy and forgiveness belong to our Lord, our God!”

God’s invitation to us

We may never be able to love, forgive, or show mercy as perfectly as God does.

But let us at least try!

“Pressed down, shaken together, and running over,” let us pour out our love into the laps of others!

At the same time, let us be wise in our generosity: Even when the master in the parable measures generously, he still uses a measuring container—he does not simply dumps everything out from a sack!

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy