THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Monday of the Twelfth week in Ordinary Time 

Gen 12:1-9

Ps 33

Matt 7:1-5

The log in your eye…

Our Gospel today (Matthew 7:1-5) is a lesson about judging others. This is a common behavior for many people. Some are destructively critical of others. Some such people never look at the good side of others. No matter the efforts being made by the other person, they see only the imperfections without acknowledging even the near-perfect efforts. Such people do not see the half-full glass, they see only the half-empty one. Jesus invites his followers to behave differently, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.” The lesson here is to live an authentic Christian life in such a way that when you correct the other person, you do not fall into the same error. If you punish your child for lying, do not lie. If you punish your child for stealing, why should you steal? We judge daily, but we must follow the simple guide given by Jesus, “First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” 

Looking into the mirror when you dress up to go out, might mean having to change or adjust a part of what you have on. So, critical judgment must begin from the self. Am I guilty of the same thing I am condemning in the other person? The person who has no right judgment about himself does not stand a good chance of judging the other. There is the need to deal with what might disturb your judgment of the other person or else, you will be biased in your assessment. “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your eye?”

If you do not want to end up as a hypocrite, do a proper examination of your conscience and change your ways to be able to judge others rightly. “The measure you give will be the measure you get.”

Let us pray: Lord help me to moderate my ways, so that I may also be able to help fellow travelers on the journey of life. Amen. 

+Remain blessed