Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

 

Gospel Reading: 6:36-38

 

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “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; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

 

In today’s Gospel reading, we are told how to be merciful “just as your Father is merciful.” We are told that we should not judge or condemn others, but that we should forgive those who trespassed against us and give of ourselves if we expect to receive. If we follow this simple rule, Jesus says, “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.” Everything we give will be given back to us. All the glory we give to others is also given to God and God returns the glory to us. The model that Jesus presents to us is the exact model of God himself. God is the most merciful and loving and we are commanded to be as merciful and loving to others. During lent, we are called to abandon those things which keep us from becoming like Christ. This means abandoning our judgmental ways and to avoid condemning others. Instead, we are called to give of ourselves even to those people we would judge. This is the ultimate definition of mercy. We are called to be understanding to those who are in error. The love which God expects from us saves us from error. We are called to reject the error but we are never called to condemn the person who may commit the error. If we condemn the person, he loses his dignity as a person. God alone is our judge and that day is coming. While we are on earth, we are only commanded to give, forgive and love our fellow man.  We are called to be an example for others and to help guide them to the kingdom of heaven.  How can we do that if we are too busy condemning others to hell?

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord God, you are so kind and merciful.

Help me to set aside my judgment and condemnation.

Help me to forgive my fellow man.

Help me to see past his sins as I too am a sinner.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon