A TIME TO JUDGE
Wednesday in the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
My dear encountered couples:
Jesus has told us that when it comes to judging people, we are to do it gently, with understanding, give everyone the benefit of the doubt, and forgive. Today he is telling us not to give the same treatment to what it is that people say. Especially to what it is they try to teach us. “Be on your guard against false prophets.”
What goes into our minds - the thoughts, the ideas, the theories and the teachings - can be good for us, or bad. And like we most certainly would not want tainted food entering our bodies, we should not want tainted words entering our minds. I’m not just referring to dirty words or obscene thoughts, I’m talking about anything that can enter our minds and become a part of our lives. What we hear, what we are told, what passes as opinion or gospel Jesus is telling us to judge. For what we accept will influence our behavior, it might decide how we conduct ourselves in our relationships with God and people. We certainly don’t want any thoughts or ideas that will pull us down and away from Christ. No matter who it is, angel or devil that offers food for thought, we are to scrutinize it, investigate it, we are to weigh its worth.
If they are good and wise thoughts in line with the teachings of Christ, we are to accept them. If they are bad or contrary to Christ, we are to cast them as far from our minds as we can.
Read, let others tell you their ideas and beliefs, listen to the radio and to what is said on TV, but before letting any of it affect your life or your character, judge it. Try always to “be on your guard against false prophets.”
