The Catholic Calendar for Monday, June 25, 2001
Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 12:1-9
Psalm 33:12-13,18-20,22
Matthew 7:1-5
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
"Judge not lest ye be judged."
This language is so easy to remember. Almost everyone has heard this
in the King James or Douay Rheims translations (very similar styles).
But what is Jesus really saying to us here? I think there are a great
many things mixed together in this extraordinarily wise teaching. He
tells us a spiritual and powerful psychological truth which, in a
sense, are one in the same.
Jesus tells us that every time we look at someone in judgment, we are
seeing ourselves -- something we don't care for, something we'd like
to get rid of. This is the powerful psychological truth. The
spiritual side of it is, that if we know enough to condemn it and yet
are guilty ourselves of it, then, indeed, we have rendered judgment.
If we would let people be, if we would allow them the freedom to be
themselves, without being hedged in by our expectations of them, we
might find ourselves freed from a great many burdens. It is hard
sitting in judgment on so many things all day long. It is hard to try
to retain the facade of perfection. We don't need to do it. All we
need to do is turn the judging eye away from others and turn to God
in love. We need to merely admit our own imperfections and not worry
about those that we observe in others. We need the freedom to be what
God has made us: loving images of Himself. And we can only be that
when we back away from judging and meting out justice to the world.
JuandelaCruz TOC
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