MEASURE UP (09-09-13)

Luke 6:37, 38

“Stop judging and you will not be judged… For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

We always want ourselves to be judged by others – but it should be positively.  My friend should tell me that I dress well.  Parents want their children to tell them good things about themselves and vice versa.  Office workers want rewards for good things done.  We want people to say nice things about us at our funeral (though we would not be able to hear it anyway).  We want to feel good by what others say about us.

In return, we judge everything and everyone and find life meaningful only when we are judged as having significance in return.  But of course, I hate it when someone judge me negatively.  When you judge me favorably and applaud me, that is what I like, and I may judge you the same.

Gospel today tells us that it is better to be judged than judge others negatively.  Or, do not judge a person or anyone at all.  You will be judged by the greatest and only Judge of all - by Jesus.  He will weigh and measure the moral worth of your every thought, feeling, word and deed.  You will give an account to Him of your entire life.

On Judgment Day, your deeds will be the evidence of your faith, verifying whether or not you truly believed in Christ with living faith.  His judgment is what will give your life its true and ultimate significance.  The judgment you made will ultimately judge you.  Judge Him to be your Savior and receive God’s judgment on your sins in His death on the cross.  Judge Him to be your Lord and receive God’s judgment of your eternal acceptance in His resurrection.  And accept your judgment in Heaven.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, teach me not to be judgmental of others so I may not be judged in return by no other than You.  In the end, may your mercy judge me positively so I may finally join You in heaven.

Amen +

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!