HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE TWELFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II. 22.06.2020.

Readings: 2 Kings 17:5-8, 13-15, 18; Psalm 60 and Matthew 7:1-5. 

PASSING JUDGMENT UPON OTHERS. 

 

There is a story behind every person, which should always come to mind before judging them. Sometimes, we realize that everything we judge in others is something within ourselves we do not want to face. While some of us will be quick to judge Israel as the Lord removed it out of his sight, Christ in the Gospel calls us to look inwardly before passing judgments to others.

 

The first reading present to us how the Assyrians conquer the northern kingdom of Israel. Some of us will be quick to judge them as they sinned against God of which resulted to their defeat and captivity. It was a problem of sin. Those that may raise critics on Israel’s defeat, are they free from sin? Sometimes we see ourselves breaking the covenant we made with God, which in this case are embedded in our baptismal promise. This reading encourage us not to be quick in condemning others but rather turn from our evil ways and keep the covenant we have with God.

 

Similarly, in the Gospel, Christ warns us to, “Judge not that you may not be judge.” With this command, Jesus warned against passing judgment upon others, because when we do so, we will be judged in a similar manner. An example of unjust judgment was the disciples’ condemnation of the woman who came to anoint the feet of Jesus with oil (Matthew 26:6-13). They thought she was wasting something; Jesus said she had done a good work that would always be remembered. They had a rash, harsh, unjust judgment. We break this command each time we think the worst of others; we break this command when we only speak to others of their faults and hardly speak of their strength; we break this command when we judge an entire life only by its worst moments; we break this command when we judge the hidden motives of others. Finally, we break this command of Christ when we judge others without considering ourselves in their same circumstances or placing ourselves in their shoes. Christ shows how we are generally far more tolerant to our own sin than we are to the sin of others.

 

Christ gives us a principle to help us keep the command of ‘Judge not, that you may not be judge’ when he said, “Take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” He draws attention to the human tendency to be more aware of the faults of others than of one’s own. An awareness of our own failings keeps us humble. He is saying in today’s gospel that working on our own failings should be a higher priority for us than working on the failings of others. May the Lord bless his words in our hearts through Christ our Lord. Amen! Peace be with you!

 

Fr. Ken Dogbo, OSJ