Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 6, 36-38

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”

Measure

1. Merciful. The word “merciful” comes from the idea of recognizing misery—it describes someone who is honest about their own shortcomings. We are merciful only because we know we have our own failings. We all have them, and as we go through life, they show up in many subtle ways. For a long time, Catholics were expected to be sinless or perfect, but the more I live, the more I realize we are a church full of broken people. When I became a priest, I thought I was joining a group of angels. I wasn’t. I realized I’m among people with real weaknesses and temptations who slip up often. Being a Christian isn’t about being a “moral policeman” or a professor of ethics who decides who is “good enough” to be included. It’s about being a companion to the person who has fallen and is trying to get back on their feet.

2. Do not judge. In my early years, I judged people and other priests constantly. I even measured their worth by how they dressed or how they prayed. I’m ashamed to admit it now, but it’s the truth. I used to hang out with a group where we felt entitled to judge others based on whether they prayed the Rosary or went to Mass. When I took a sabbatical year, I realized how wrong I had been. Eventually, that same group I used to pray and gossip with turned around and judged me for my own shortcomings. The most humbling part, though, was that many of the people I had looked down on were the ones who stepped up to help me during my darkest moments. Never judge your brothers and sisters—the person you least expect, the one you think is the “weakest”, might be the one who saves you.

3. The right measure. Learn to live according to a realistic “measure”—accepting your own limits and the failings of others. One of our biggest mistakes is demanding more than someone can give, especially when they are just trying to help.  Learn to check your expectations and be careful about how much you demand from those around you. You might be treating some people like professional employees when they actually entered your life simply as volunteers, offering what they could out of the goodness of their heart.

Don’t forget that something good is on the way!   

God bless you and be with you, in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.