Daily HOMILY for March 17, 2014: Monday of the 2nd Week of Lent, Cycle A

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In 2014, I am facilitating a 12-week interactive online course in contemplative prayer and action for priests with Saint Luke Institute.  Please visit SLIconnect.org to learn more:  https://www.sliconnect.org/product/living-god-program-contemplative-life-2/

Monday 2^nd Week of Lent

Mepkin Abbey

March 17, 2014

The tendency to judge +++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  In daily living, our natural tendency is to judge

Ø  We judge weather as good or bad, food as tasty or tasteless, traffic as great or horrendous, etc.

Ø  We have this tendency to form an opinion & judge just about everything

Ø  This includes making judgments about people

Ø  We judge because of something they say, their political opinions, the meet, greet, interact

Ø  When we do this, there is a triple loss: (1) our loss, (2) their loss, & (3) community’s loss

OUR LOSS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  1^st, our loss – because we fail to see and appreciate the real person

Ø  Can’t judge other w/o having been in their position

Ø  Since we can never B in exactly same place & life circumstance, we really cannot judge them

Ø  So when we judge them as good or bad, as worthy or unworthy, it’s R loss because we miss the real person that’s there

THEIR LOSS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Then, it’s also their loss – because we are all injured when we are judged

Ø  We are stereotyped and pigeon-holed

Ø  We get frozen in place

Ø  When we are judged, it’s hard to grow and hard to feel connected, much less supported by others

Ø  And some judgment is the last thing we need

COMMUNITY’S LOSS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Finally, it’s community’s loss, becz community’s injured

Ø  People R not valued & respected when this kind of judgment takes place

Ø  The community loses out on having the potentials of people unfulfilled

Ø  As a result community may not grow in its ways or thinking because of this

CONCLUSION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  So Jesus gives us a challenge today

Ø  Calls us 2B as caring & empathetic as God himself & 2 refrain from judging one another

Ø  Instead we’re to take people where they R & move from there

Ø  It’s the Lord’s way & it met with good results

Ø  Jesus calls us to have the same approach

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Blessing after Mass in Honor of St. Patrick’s Day

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.