GOSPEL

June 25, 2018 (Monday) 12th Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 4/(Green) Ps 60:3, 4-5, 12-13 Help us with your right hand, OLord, and answer us.

1st Reading: 2 K 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18

The army of the king of Asshur subjected the whole of Israel, coming to Samaria and laying siege to it for three years. In the ninth year of the reign of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, exiled the Israelites to Asshur and made them settle in Halah, at the banks of Habor, the river of Gozan, as well as in the cities of the Medes.

This happened because the children of Israel had sinned against Yahweh, their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, where they were subject to Pharaoh. But they had turned back to other gods. They followed the customs of the nations which Yahweh had driven out before them.

Yahweh warned Israel and Judah through the mouth of every prophet and seer, saying: “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and precepts according to the laws which I commanded your fathers and which I have sent to you by my servants, the prophets.” But they did not listen and refused, as did their fathers, who did not believe in Yahweh, their God. They despised his statutes and the Covenant he had made with their fathers, and the warnings he had given them. They went after worthless idols and they themselves became worthless, following the nations which surrounded them, in spite of what Yahweh had said, “Do not do as they do.”

So Yahweh became indignant with Israel and cast them far away from his presence, leaving only the tribe of Judah.

Gospel: Mt 7:1-5

Do not judge; and you will not be judged. In the same way you judge others, you will be judged; and the measure you use for others will be used for you. Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, and not see the plank in your own eye? Howcan you say to your brother, ‘Come, let me take the speck from your eye,’ as long as that plank is in your own? Hypocrite, remove the plank out of your own eye; then, you will see clearly, to re- move the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Reflection:

Do not judge; and you will not be judged.

Israel is exiled into Assyria because of her infidelity to Yahweh. The Lord judged Israel and found her wanting. However, in our Gospel, Jesus instructs us not to judge anyone. On the one hand, God has the right to judge us, while we do not. On the other hand, the Book of Kings presents a God who judges and punishes due to sin, in contrast to a Jesus who proclaims a God of infinite mercy.

Is it the God of the Old Testament and the New Testament that has changed? Or is it our understanding of God that has evolved? Claretian Communications Foundation Inc.; 8 Mayumi Street, UPVillage, Diliman, 1101 Quezon City; Tel.: (02) 921-3984, 922-9806; Fax: (02) 921-6205; e-mail: www.claretianpublications.com/ cci@claret.org; website: ccfi@claretphilippines.com