HOMILY OF 12TH MONDAY IN ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
HOMILY OF 12TH MONDAY IN ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: STOP JUDGING OTHERS
BY: Fr. Paul Karabari
Gen 12:1-9; Psalm 33:12-13, 18-22; Matt 7:1-5
‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged. In the same way you judge others, you will be judged’ (Matt. 7:1-2).
There are those whose office it is to judge (magistrates), this passage doesn’t take away such power. It is rather referring to the tendency to pass verdict on the actions and inaction of others in a way that makes us feel we are better compared to them. In judging others, we unconsciously assume the position of the righteous one.
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Have you ever thought you were better than someone else? Have you ever judged someone because of something they have done or not done? We can probably all answer ‘yes’ to those questions. We can be quick to point out other people’s faults, talk behind their backs, or damage our relationships by criticising.
But Jesus said: ‘Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye but not notice the log in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when there is a log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye’ (Matthew 7:3-5). This whole story shows how we shouldn’t be judging others because we can also be judged for things. Nobody is perfect, only God is. And He is the only One who can judge. In Romans, Paul says: ‘If you think you can judge others, you are wrong. When you judge them, you are really judging yourself guilty because you do the same things they do. God judges those who do wrong things, and we know that his judging is right’ (2:1-2).
In the Message, Jesus’ words are paraphrased: ‘Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticise their faults – unless, of course, you want the same treatment.’ Instead of judging and criticising, Paul says, ‘When we have the opportunity to help…we should do it’ (Galatians 6:10). So we need to be looking for ways to bless people, even when we know they can’t do anything in return for us. We need to be encouraging people and making them feel valued.Go out of your way to make someone feel special. Jesus said: ‘If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return…The way you treat others is the way you will be treated
Judging others makes us see those who don’t endorse what we believe as enemies. We can end up attributing admirable qualities to the people we wish to associate with and negative ones to those we don’t. But that is not what Jesus did. He made friends and spent time with sinners and societal outcasts – without compromising who He was or approving of their lifestyle. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God have mercy on us, heal our world, bless and protect us all through Christ, our Lord Amen. Good morning.
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