The Just Judge
Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
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.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
There are always two people that we can identify in the Gospel stories: Jesus and ourselves. Jesus is the center of all the Scriptures (Old Testament and New Testament), and the Gospels most directly deal with His life on earth. And that is where we find ourselves in the Gospels. We are part of the world that Jesus comes to redeem. So in the Gospels we can (and should) see ourselves in the characters that Jesus encounters: the sinners Jesus heals, the children Jesus welcomes, the followers who abandon Jesus, the rich young man who loves his possessions, the sorrowful mother on whom Jesus has compassion, the Samaritan woman whom Jesus tests with His silence before He answers her…
It is good to read the Gospel like this. The Gospel really should speak into our lives. We must be careful, however, to not only see the good characters as being like us, but also the troublesome ones. When we hear today’s Gospel, we shouldn’t first think about the hypocrisy of others (“Oh, I know a hypocrite at work, or school, or church…”), but instead we should think of the hypocrisy of our hearts. We should examine ourselves: when have I been a hypocrite? It’s okay to admit we sin. Actually, it’s good. God doesn’t expect our perfection—but he expects humility. We first must acknowledge our sins, and then we can experience His mercy. If we see ourselves in the Gospel sinners, then we can see ourselves in the Gospel saints.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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