“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.” (MT 7: 1-2) 

This is not a prohibition against recognizing the faults of others but against passing judgment in a spirit of arrogance, forgetful of one’s own faults. We are called to protect, to defend and to show mercy, like Our Lord does always with us. More grace comes with mercy than with judgment because judgment only recognizes faults, but mercy also puts a medicine on them.

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

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (LK 9: 23-24)

When we think and proceed in being a better gift of self (instead of receiving more from others) and when we “deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and follow” the example of Our Lord, who died for us that we have life and have it in abundance, then we can have real lives, which never end, just change location—from earth to heaven.

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” (MT 6: 33-34)

First things first—when we put God in first place, everything, naturally, will fall into its right place. Like in the work-life balance, it is not about work or life; it is not more work or more life; it is about doing God’s will: “seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness.” And His will says about work that we need to complete our work and protect our relationships. Our work and our lives should lead us closer to God.

“Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” (MT 6: 19-21)

Our lives are temporary here; we are born to live forever in heaven. Storing up our treasures here is not smart, “where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.” This is not the most important motive; much more important is to “store up treasures in heaven” because of our hearts—“where your treasure is, there also will you heart be.” We prefer hearts looking for heaven, longing to be there, not for something destructible.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“You were destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD, to turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob.” (SIR 48: 10)

All relationships in the family are so important. Without a strong and deep relationship between husband and wife, we can’t expect strong and deep relationships within the family. When a father’s heart protects the relationship with his son, we can expect all the best things not only in the family but also in society. Good societies start with good relationships in the family.

“You have received a spirit of adoption as sons through which we cry: Abba! Father!” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” (MT 6: 6) 

We are loved; we are protected, and whatever we do—even a small and unimportant thing—is big and important to Him. Our God is the “Father who sees” and who cares. Whatever we do for our brothers and sisters in secret is visible to Him and will be rewarded.

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” (MT 5: 44-45)

Our dignity and our new identity, “children of our heavenly Father,” directs us only to two simple things: to love and to pray. These are simple directions, although extremely challenging: “love your enemies” and “pray for those who persecute you” because Our Lord “makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.”

“I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.” (MT 5: 41-42)

Our perfection, which God expects from us, shouldn’t be based on perfect actions, but rather on perfect relationships. All the examples given today by our Lord redirect our thinking from how to protect our status or position to how to be closer to others, how to be more a gift of self rather than a demander.

“A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me.” (GAL 2: 19-20)

Unconditionally loved by God, “crucified with Christ,” and united with Him, “I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.” All my life I dedicate to Him; my actions and missions come from His call, and whatever good I did or do, it happens because “He has loved me and given himself up for me.” Still I am a sinner, but redeemed and loved.

“God loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” (ACTS 13: 2) 

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting,” the Holy Spirit was able to ask them to “set apart for Him Barnabas and Saul for the work to which He has called them.” Two things were needed—“worshiping and fasting” and the apostles being ready-to-send. All of us are invited “for the work to which the Holy Spirit has called us”: different missions, but the same Caller, different tasks, but the same love.

“Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees; and favor me with your law.” (Gospel Acclamation)