HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 12TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II (1)

HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 12TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II

THEME: JUDGE NOT.

BY: FR GERALD M. MUSA

HOMILY FOR MONDAY JUNE 20 2022

Often, we are blind to our faults and always curious to expose and exaggerate the fault of others. Jesus said to his disciples, “Judge not that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). Jesus gave this instruction knowing that our judgments are hasty, one-sided, biased, imperfect, and sometimes based on limited, distorted, and false information. We wrongly judge others based on hearsay and the opinion of others. One of the leading causes of hasty judgment is self-righteousness, followed by a superiority complex, a determination to demote others and promote ourselves; We cannot judge people justly without knowing their motivations, background, worldview, and challenges in life. Many times, we judge people by their past, even when they have moved on. St. James warns: “.. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who can save and destroy. But you-who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:11-12). Jesus does not condemn fraternal correction, assessment, or opinion about others, but rather he frowns at judging others hastily, and with a sense of arrogance. All judgments must be done with humility, love, compassion, honesty, patience, and understanding. Do we know that we share in the mission of

Jesus which is not to condemn but to save (John 12:47)?

MATTHEW 7:1-5

Monday, 12th Week of Ordinary Time