Today's gospel reading is a continuation of the teaching that began in last Sunday's gospel. We continue to hear Jesus' Sermon on the Plain.  These words from Jesus' teaching are familiar to us. They constitute the crux and the challenge of what it means to be a disciple: Love your enemies, turn the other cheek, give to those who ask, do unto others, lend without expecting repayment, judge not lest you be judged.  Beloved, God loves us beyond our expectations, beyond anything we can possibly imagine. In response to God's love, we are to love as God loves and be ready and willing to forgive.