First Reading - 1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-27
Gospel - Luke 6:39-42
There is a saying:"To err is human, to forgive is divine." We all have made mistakes at some point of our lives. Our mistakes show that we still need to grow and learn in our lives. The readings of the day teach us to become merciful as our God shows mercy to us and avoid becoming scrupulous over the mistakes of others.
The first reading is an excellent piece that challenges each one to realise the responsibility of the gospel entrusted to us. It's really impressive to notice how Paul understood his responsibility. Firstly, he states that preaching the good news is his responsibility and mere a job; the responsibility that is entrusted to him and he stands accountable for it. Secondly, he embodies, how he has carried out his responsibility to the good news - by becoming all things to all. He boldly asserts that he has reached the good news to all according to their situation and state of life. It means made the good news address the situation of everyone in their respective way. Thirdly, Paul believes that in doing everything, he expects only one thing that is reward from the Lord as the winner. Furthermore, he also recommends every Christian to understand the responsibility of their work in order to win the reward from the Lord.
It's important to note that Paul adapts himself to the situation of everyone or in other words, he puts himself into the shoes of everyone so that the good news finds relevance in the lives of everyone. This is a great challenge for everyone of us to be able to understand others, their situations and their state of life to the best possible so that the message of the good news finds relevance in their lives. Once we able, most of the misunderstandings and misconceptions will give way.
The gospel continues with the instructions of Jesus to his disciples. In today's passage, Jesus teaches his disciples to avoid being judgmental. When we become judgmental and complaintful or complaintive, we tend to spot the mistakes of others and condemn them. Jesus tells his disciples: "Don't judge." Does it mean, we have to condon every mistake of others? It's not so, but we should not become arrogant lest forget that we also can make mistakes. Jesus by saying - don't judge, he invites his disciples not to become exaggeratedly arrogant and angry over the faults of others but have the heart of mercy like our master, Jesus himself. Jesus also points out that by spotting a mistake of our brothers or sisters, we should not forget our imperfections as well.
Dear friends, we are all imperfect with a desire to become perfect. We all err and grow. This is part of being human. Our brothers and sisters are also weak and prone to fail or make mistakes, when we become arrogant and scrupulous, we overlook our mistakes and failures. We should correct and help our brothers and sisters to improve their mistakes and failures rather than outrightly condemn and hand them to damnation. This view can make us blind, thus can't lead them because as the blind we cannot lead the other blind people. Let's have a merciful heart to forgive others for their mistakes as God does with us. God shows his mercy to us however cruel or wicked we are. He still has a room for us in His heart. Paul exemplifies by his life that he was able to get into the shoes of others according to their lives for the sake of gospel. This is a challenging task for us as well. If we are able to get into the shoes of others, perhaps, in place of anger, we will have a forgiving heart for the mistakes done by the person and there the good news will become alive in our lives.
Let's imitate the mercy of God in our lives. Although it's not easy but with God everything is possible. We do get angry with others but let's not condemn them. Let's have courage to correct them with mercy remembering that we are also weak and can make mistakes. We do have to condemn the actions of the person which are heinous but let's not condemn the person because it's God who is the sole judge of our actions. Let's not become arrogant and scrupulous but merciful after the example of our master, Jesus Christ.
May God help us become merciful.
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