March 9, 2020

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you”  (Luke 6:36-38)

There are times when Scripture can be cryptic. Did Jesus mean this? Or maybe He meant that. Are Paul and the prophets implying this? Or do they really mean that? Often Jesus taught in parables, so the disciples needed to assemble the puzzle to discover His message.

Today’s Gospel leaves no doubt as to its message. There is no puzzle to decode. Today we are told how to treat others.

It is a simple message that gives us much about which to think. Are we judgmental? Do we judge and condemn first, and ask questions later? Are there people in our lives who have hurt us and for whom we now hold a grudge? Is it time to let go and forgive? Is our focus always inward? Do we respond as we should to the needs of others?

Try reading the passage above while looking in the mirror. It offers great food for thought for the Lenten season.