Journey on by stages

Greetings on this the Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Gn 12:1-9; Ps 33:12-13, 18-19, 20 and 22; Mt 7:1-5
Notes: Medical dictum “treat the wound, not the weapon” should be a spiritual dictum as well. What we do is less important than the causes and effects, not the act itself.

Our pilgrim journey on Earth is divided into stages.

We can think of it biologically;

• Baby
• Toddler
• Tween
• Teen
• Young Adult
• Mature Adult
• Old Age

We can think of it in terms of relations:

• Mom
• Me
• Dad
• Brothers and Sisters
• Extended family
• Friends
• Neighbors
• Spouse
• Children
• Coworkers
• Worship partners

There are many ways to measure the stages of our life.

There is one measure the Lord wants us to avoid: Judging others.

This is not a prohibition against recognizing the faults of others, which would be hardly compatible with Mt 7:5, 6 but against passing judgment in a spirit of arrogance, forgetful of one’s own faults (NABRE comment on Matt 7:1 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/7?1=#48007001-2 ).

A reflection June, 2021 on these readings here: http://deacongerrypalermo.blog/2021/06/21/start-over/ (Memorial, Year One)
A reflection June, 2022 on these readings here: http://deacongerrypalermo.blog/2022/06/20/forced-migration/ (Year Two)
A reflection June, 2023 on these readings on this page today June 26 (Year One).

What is most interesting about the Lord’s commandment to us is this: He doesn’t require us to self-assess all the time, all the time. But it is when we are tempted to judge others, this is a good time to self-assess. Find the wooden beam. Remove it.

The dictum “treat the wound, not the weapon” should be our guide. What we do is less important than the causes and effects, not the act itself.

I preached once that when I follow Jesus’ command to not judge and to instead work on my own failings, the failings of others disappear.

Literally disappear.
As if they never existed at all.

And perhaps maybe they didn’t exist either or given time and space, like actual splinters, they work themselves out without my plucking and tugging.

Because we journey on in stages.
Together.
And our path is to our final home with the Lord.

First Reading
Then Abram journeyed on by stages to the Negeb.

Responsorial
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, To deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine.

Gospel Acclamation
The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry