In our first reading, the Apostle comes out strongly against those who sit in judgement of others and condemn them. He was repeating the teaching of Our Blessed Lord at the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5). It is the case that when we point an accusing finger at others, four fingers point back to us. This is an indication that we have the greater guilt and should rather do some inward looking. We cannot know all the facts of the situation which led to the other person saying what he said or acting the way he did. Even if we see the actions, can we read the person’s inner disposition? God wants us not to judge others. If we persist in doing so, His judgement will be heavy on us both now and at the end of time. In the Gospel reading, the Lord Jesus gave a stern reproach to the Pharisees and Lawyers for their lives of hypocrisy.
A right course of approach would be to pray for persons who may not be living the way God wants. Our prayers may yield the effect of repentance, which is pleasing to God.
Have mercy on me, Lord, for I have sinned. Amen.
‘’As a deer yearns for running streams, so I yearn for you my God. I thirst for God, the living God; when shall I go to see the face of God’’ (Psalm 42:1-2).
MSGR. PAUL BESSONG ENOW.