Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Monday of the 12th week in ordinary time, June 23, 2025

Delivered by Ria from the Parish of Good Shepherd in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Genesis 12: 1-9; Rs psalm 33: 12-13. 18-19.20.22; Matthew 7: 1-5.WHOJUDGES RIGHT? Thetitle for our meditation today is: Who Judges Right? Ferdinand is a cheerfulsenior high school student. He was elected president of the Catholic Youth ofhis local parish a week ago. But after one week he resigned. The reason he quittedso quickly as chairman was because many of his friends gave him constructivecomments and suggestions. However, many more criticized and gave him negativeviews and slander.  Negativejudgments or being judgmental is found everywhere made by anyone among us.According to the Lord Jesus Christ, this should not be done, and should not bethe lifestyle of His followers. It is a sin to make someone the lord of truthand goodness. TheLord Jesus gives us an affirmation and insisting us to stop our habit to judgeand condemn others because we consider them sinners. Instead, He teaches us toprioritize goodness and good qualities of others, because through this wayhuman education takes place, love grows as it should be, and solidarity amongGod's people remains. Judgment,criticism and sharp comments are still needed for every person, group andcommunity, but we should do them in gentleness and love. This is a sacred duty.Parents correct and even judge their children about the relationship betweenthe opposite sex which is already worrying many people around. Maybe some youngreligious men and women are judged quite strong in the matter of daily lifediscipline that has dried up and lost its quality. This should be considered asacred judgment. So,Jesus' best advice for us is that whoever judges, criticizes and values hisneighbour in goodness and in love, he will be judged accordingly by God. Who,then, can judge properly or correctly? It is God who gives. He is the source oflove and goodness. We as His people participate in giving correction, properjudgments and appropriate criticism because we are indeed made as God’sinstruments to such duty. Weshould do this beginning from ourselves to judge ourselves, whether we areclean or free from mistakes and sins or we are truly sinners. If we commit thesame sin as the person for whom we are judging, while we ourselves have not anyslightest of repentance, it is tantamount to lying or hypocrisy. That will notwork because people will challenge us to first give the proof if we are cleanor we have changed. Words and deeds must walk together. Let'spray. In the name of the Father... O Lord Jesus Christ, make us sincere andtrue in giving judgments, criticisms and correction to our fellowmen and women,and make us credible Christians through our words and actions. Glory to theFather and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit... In the name of the Father...