Judge not but Take the First Step

Reflection on Today's Readings, 12th Week in Ordinary Time Year II, Monday 22nd June, 2020
Texts: 2Kgs. 17:5-8,13-15a,18; Ps. 60:3-5,12-14; Mtt. 7:1-5
God always takes the first step. He shows us love even when we do not deserve it (1John4:19). The love of God is so strong that the farther we go from him, the more he pours his grace upon us (Rom. 5:20). When we thread the path of destruction, he follows us, providing the way for us to come back to him. That was the case of the people of Israel in today's first reading. The reading wants us to know how ungrateful the people were by telling us what God did for them and how they abandoned him for other gods. Though they abandoned him and were ungrateful to him, God did not abandon them; he sent his prophets to them, calling them back to himself. God sought and called them until they finally got lost and find themselves in the exile. The reading makes us realize that they got lost because of their sins. It says, "And this was so because the sons of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God".
Jesus Christ, in today's gospel, calls us to exemplary life. Jesus Christ wants us to be the change we want in the world, not pointing accusing finger and condemning one another. Hence, he says, "Judge not, that you be not judged. ..... You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye". In every case, let us first ask ourselves what we have done wrong or not done that has contributed to the case, then let us make amends. If we make amends on our own sides, it will have ripple effect on the others, unless they are obstinate people who do not appreciate love and mercy.

Lord Jesus Christ, give us the grace to refrain from judging others but to always take the first step towards peace and reconciliation. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke