Faith Daily |20 June 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p 554

Almighty and everlasting God,

you are always more ready to hear than we are to pray,

and give more than either we desire or deserve:

pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,

forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,

and giving us those good things

which we are not worthy to ask,

save through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ,

your Son our Lord.

Amen

GOSPEL for the Day: Matthew 7: 1-5

‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your neighbour, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”, while the log is in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye.

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Mary Dean

What a straight forward uncomplicated few verses is our reflection for today! But at the same time causing us some serious soul searching!!

Do I judge others? Am I quick to notice what others do wrong, but not so quick to recognise the same failings, or worse, in myself? It is often the case that our own faults are the ones we least tolerate in another person.

“Do not judge…”. What a difficult command! How many times do we judge without realising it - even reading the newspaper, watching the news, or walking down the street?

This passage focuses on leaving judgement to God and instead showing compassion for the weaknesses of another. However, if we read this passage in the context of the Lord’s commands to love our neighbour as ourselves, and to forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, it becomes clear that we need also to forgive ourselves.

Arrogance can make us believe that we are morally superior to others and can act as judges over them. As Jesus' imagery suggests it is all too easy to see others' faults and remain blind to our own. Becoming obsessed with a small failing in another person can distract us from being aware of a much greater shortcoming in ourselves.

Let us pray for an enlightened self-knowledge and a non-judgmental attitude (generosity of spirit) towards others. It is always helpful to remember that the person we are judging is loved by God just as much as He (God) loves us.

FINAL PRAYER

Lord, grant me the grace to notice when I am tempted to pass judgement. Help me instead to identify the particular fault in my own life and to pray for forgiveness – not only for the other person, but for myself as well.

Amen.