Meditation
for Monday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time
(Gen
12:1-9; Mt 7:1-5)
The human mind is the seat of judgement. Our basic mode of
reasoning takes the form of judgement and making choices and arriving at a conclusion. It appears practically impossible for someone to apply reason on
issues without making judgement about them. Thus, when Jesus says in the gospel
of today, “Judge not, that you be not judged”, it appears he is asking us to ‘suspend’
reason about what we perceive. But listening further, He says, “For with the
judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be
the measure you get.” To pronounce judgement is to ‘conclude’ for others, and
attempt to ‘determine’ the fate of someone. That means the one who raises the
measure of his judgement as an objective standard for others has automatically accepted
to subject himself to that same standard.
Obviously, our subjective views are not clear enough to see
through another person’s whole intention and actions to conclude their life. We
hardly see enough of ourselves; how can we claim to have perceived ourselves completely
of others! It is hypocritical to abandon the log in one’s eyes while noticing
the speck in his brother’s eye. That is why the example of Abraham in the first
reading will forever remain fresh in our hearts. He demonstrated clearly in his
obedience of faith to God’s instructions that God is all knowing, and he ‘reasoned’
out his journey in favor of God’s will.
Thus, Abraham embarked on the journey of faith without seeing
the whole picture; without knowing what it would take or where it would end. He
journeyed on with the same energy and confidence, “still going towards the
Negeb.” This is how the ‘judgment of faith’ carries us forward beyond the
limits of the ‘judgement from self’. This self-based rationalizing is usually blind
to the self and completely biased against others. The judgment it produces
cannot take us far. But when faith is the light of reason, our vision of life
pierces through to the heavens and our horizon is endless. Then, we journey on;
and like Abraham who became a source of blessing to others, we lead them to the
right path. Instead of judging and condemning others, we inspire, uplift,
encourage and bless them to continue their journey of life in the path of God’s
will. Amen.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Monday June 26, 2023.
May God help us to allow the judgment of faith carry us forward beyond the limits of the judgment from self. Amen
ReplyDelete