Author: admin

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Gospel: Matthew: 7:1-5

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
For as you judge, so will you be judged,
and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’
while the wooden beam is in your eye?
You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Why is it so harmful to judge other people?

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Because judgments lead to generalizations. 

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For example, if a child is bit by a dog once, then he or she can develop a fear of dogs. Suddenly, every dog is dangerous.

Or, if you have one bad meal at a restaurant, it’s easy to say, “I’ll never return.”

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While we need to make certain judgment calls to protect ourselves, what Jesus warns us about is judging the morality or character of another person.

For example, if we judge someone for losing their temper once, then it it’s easy to say, “Oh, he’s an angry person.”

Or, if someone makes one impure joke, it’s easy to say, “That’s an impure person.”

But it’s not the business of Christians to be the confident moralist who passes judgement on those who stumble – not publicly, and not in the silence of our hearts.

As Mother Teresa once said, “If you spend all your time judging other people, then you have no time to love them.”

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Perhaps we should examine our hearts today and consider how we see other people. Have we developed unfair judgments of others? 

Or do we readily forgive and offer a second chance?

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“For as you judge,” Jesus says, “so you will be judged.”

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Image credits: (1) Boldomatic (2) Inspirations – WordPress.com (3) Cripplegate

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Gospel: Matthew 6: 19-23

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.
But store up treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“The lamp of the body is the eye.
If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light;
but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness.
And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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I was in Kansas last week, celebrating the baptism of my cousin’s daughter. While it was wonderful being with them, there’s always a certain stress I associate with airports.

You have to wake up early, plan your arrival, and then begin standing in a series of lines.

For example, when it’s your turn to pass through security, you must empty your pockets, remove your belt and shoes, separate your electronics, and slide everything you’ve packed onto a conveyor belt.

Then approach the x-ray scanner with your arms up, pockets empty, and shoes off.

That narrow gate has no room for your luggage. I myself can barely fit!

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Isn’t that an appropriate image for life? 

We cannot take anything with us when we pass through that narrow gate of death; all we can bring with us are the good works we’ve done, the faith and the relationships we’ve nurtured.

“Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and decay can destroy,” Jesus says, “but store up treasures in heaven.”

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How much treasure do I have stored up in heaven? And how much do I have stored up on earth?

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May we spend the day doing what matters – loving our God and our neighbor as ourselves.

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(A little humor today!)

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Image credits: (1) Kingdom Virtues (2) HolyArt.com (3) India Travel, IndiaMike.com

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Gospel: Matthew 6: 7-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This is how you are to pray:

    ‘Our Father who art in heaven,
        hallowed be thy name,
        thy Kingdom come,
    thy will be done,
        on earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread;
        and forgive us our trespasses,
        as we forgive those who trespass against us;
        and lead us not into temptation,
        but deliver us from evil.’

“If you forgive others their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Prayer is essential to the life of a disciple. But sometimes we don’t know how to pray… or what to say.

Let me share what I prayed this morning: 

“I thank you, Father, that I’ve not been greedy; I’ve not been selfish; I’ve not been rude to my neighbor; I’ve not spoken ill of anyone; I’ve not coveted what isn’t mine.”

“But now I must get out bed!”

(I’m only kidding).

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I’m sure we all start the day with good intentions, but they become harder to keep once we put our feet on the floor, which is why Jesus gives us the Lord’s Prayer. It contains every petition we need to live holy lives.

We all know it, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name…” 

It’s something we’ve said thousands of times, but by virtue of routine, may take it for granted. 

Still, it’s quite profound.

Consider the final two petitions – “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

If every Christian who prayed those words took them seriously, then our world would be a very different place. We’d have a society rooted in the virtues of love and forgiveness, with people constantly striving to be better versions of themselves.

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“I thank you, Father, that I’ve not been greedy. I’ve not been selfish; I’ve not been rude to my neighbor; I’ve not spoken ill of anyone; I’ve not coveted what isn’t mine.”

“But now I must get out bed!”

As we recite the Lord’s Prayer this morning, may we mean what we say – give us the grace to love, to forgive, and to be the best version of ourselves.

Because God will only give us what we’re willing to extend to our neighbor.

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Image credits: (1) St. Pius X First Communion, by Andrea Pruyn (2) NIV Bible (3) Common Grace