If we want a lenient measure of mercy, we should be merciful.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

2 Kings 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18

The army of the king of Asshur subjected the whole of Israel,

And they came to Samaria and laid siege to it for  three years.   In the ninth year 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.

 

Ps 60:3, 4-5, 12-13

Help us with your right, O Lord, and answer me.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 7:1-5

Do not judge and you will not be judged. 2 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?  How can you say to your brother: ‘Come, let me take the speck from your eye,’ as long as that plank is in your own?

Hypocrite, take first the plank out of your own eye, then you will see clear enough to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

     

Gospel Reflection：

Judge Not …..

In Roger Young’s movie Jesus, Mary Magdalene wants to follow Jesus, but is unsure of how the reception would be. She chooses to open her heart to Jesus’ mother. At one point, hesitantly, as if expecting a reprimand and rejection, she confesses to Mother Mary: “Mary I am a prostitute.”

Mother Mary is unruffled; and with her disarming smile, she responds: “I do not judge.” Then, after a minimal pause, she continues: “I too have been judged in my life.” Her son is no different. Perhaps he inherited the trait from his mother. “I judge no one” says he (Jn 8:15).

And, he wants us also to keep off from judging. Why is it so compelling for us to think of God as a judge, be it in the Second coming or his everyday coming? Perhaps it is because we still haven’t learned to look at the other – and ourselves – with the eyes of God?