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Men’s Club Day of
Recollection
St. Mark’s Church
October 25, 2014
MAKING JUDGMENTS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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The sharing of people’s thoughts about the
misfortunes of others is often a great way to deflect attention away from
yourself
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“Just look
at what he did & w/ a wife & 3 children!”
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Often these deflections R genuine acts of
humility, but at other times they are tacit acts of avoidance
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My mother had an expression in this regard, “There but for the grace of God go I”
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Meaning, of course, that if it weren’t for God’s
grace, I could be doing the very same thing
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J also had a saying, “Before U take the splinter out of UR neighbor’s eye, remove beam from UR
own”
GETTING “ON IT” ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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The people tell Jesus the rumor about the 18
Galileans and how their guilt is proven by the tower of Siloam falling on them
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J realizes they R attempting 2 distract him from
his more imp message about repentance
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He knows that they’re hoping 4 a public
discussion of sinfulness of defiled Galileans
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Noting their mindset, he lets the details of the
rumor fall by the wayside
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W/ compassionate clarity he engages their story
as opportunity 2 continue 2 address R inclination 4 sin & need 4 repentance
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He doesn’t allow self 2B drawn into perpetuation
of the account
GETTING “OFF IT” +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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We Catholics, R often compromised by the
proliferation of rumors or flawed stories, that are passed around social
circles or office
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When we hear these tales, we’re often unclear
about how 2 respond
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Sometimes we’re drawn into conversation w/o
realizing damaging effects of an unforgiving heart, stereotyping, or listening
to gossip
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Perhaps we need 2 remember example of J & let
overstatement about weaknesses of others fall by wayside
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Maybe we need 2 remember all of us R guilty in
some lapse, promise or responsibility
CONCLUSION
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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It’s time to remember “There for the grace of God go I” or “First remove the beam in your own eye”
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J is very clear: “If U don’t repent, U’ll all perish.”
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