Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Monday of the twelfth in ordinary time, June 22nd, 2026

Delivered by Andre and Shendy Jost from the Parish of Saint Albert the Great in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. 2 Kings 17: 5-8.13-15a.18; Rs psalm 60: 3.4-5.12-13; Matthew 7: 1-5.WHO CAN JUDGE RIGHTLY? The theme for our meditation today is: Who Can JudgeRightly? Ferdinand was a cheerful teenager and was in his first-year high school. He was elected thechairman of the altar boys group in local parish community. However heresigned  from that post a week after.When he was asked why he quit as chairman so quickly, he only replied honestlythat many of his friends gave constructive comments and inputs. But many moregave him a negative evaluation or criticism and even slander. Negative evaluation and judgment are found everywhereand made by everyone. A judgmental person can be found just near you.According to our Lord Jesus Christ, this cannot be done and is not thelifestyle of His followers. This is a sin which is in line with the lifestylein the world that always gives judgment in order to separate who is right fromwho is wrong. Today Jesus teaches us to stop the habit of givingjudgment which is to convict others to be sinners. Instead, we are taught togive priority to the best and most respected side of others, because through ithuman education occurs, love grows among people, and solidarity as God's peopleis preserved. Judgment, criticism and evaluation are still neededfor every person, group and community, but we are encouraged to do them ingentleness and love. This is our sacred duty. Parents correct and even judgetheir children about relationships between the opposite sexes they are engagingthat already worried them so much. Young religious men and women are judged bytheir superiors in the matter of the discipline of daily life that have becomedry and lost its quality. This is what we can call a sacred judgment. Then Jesus' best advice for us is that those whojudge, criticize and evaluate their neigbours well and in the spirit of lovewill be judged also in love by God. So we go back to our question: Who canjudge rightly? God is the one who does it because He is the source of love andkindness. We, as His people, also do the same in our own situation andcompetence because God uses us to do His works. On the how we can do this thing, we need to departfrom ourselves to first judge ourselves. We need to see sincerely whether weare clean or free from mistakes and sins. If we have sinned the same as thosewhom we give judgment, while we ourselves have not repented from that sin, itis the same as lying or a hypocrisy. This is a futile move, because people willdemand you to prove to yourself first if you are already clean or have changed.Our words and actions must be in one direction.Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O Lord Jesus Christ, make us sincere andcorrect in giving judgment, criticism and input to our fellow brothers andsisters, and use us to practice the truth through our words and deeds. Glory tothe Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father...