Luke 6. 29If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. (NRSV)

These are, indeed, difficult words to hear from Jesus. It seems that he is setting the bar out of reach, too high for us to cross. Of course, it really doesn’t come as a surprise, it’s just that we really rather he didn’t.

All too often, in these days and times, we look to do as little as possible and hope that it is enough. We look to spread the wealth around as thinly as possible so that it can cover as much area. We put band-aids on broken bones and hope it is enough. We give the beggar a quarter as though he or she might actually be able to do something with it. When someone asks for a minute of our time, we get out the stopwatch.

Things are quite different, however, when the shoe is on the other foot. When we are the person with the need, we expect, we demand, that the person who we have called upon meet our needs entirely. And that is Jesus’ point. Even if it is not our experience as a recipient, we had better bend over backwards for the person who comes to us.

Time, time, time. Give, give, give. It is so hard Lord to do that these days but we know you expect it of us. Help us to go the extra mile even when we might be to tired. Amen