Judge And Judge Not

October 4: Saturday of Week 26 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Saint Francis of Assisi

Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17; Psalm 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130; Luke 10:17-24

What is Jesus saying to us as stewards of his kingship? 

(To support Reaching Jesus... Step Five).

Judge And Judge Not

“You have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom” (Matthew 11:25).

When Job says, “I have dealt with… things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know,” he is affirming the same mystery as Jesus: “No one knows… the Son except the Father, and… the Father except the Son.” God is beyond human understanding. So is much of what God does.

Jesus adds: “and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Faith is the gift of sharing in God’s own act of knowing. But then we see as “ in a mirror, dimly” (1Corinthians 13:12). Human words never translate adequately the Word of God.

“Theology” is “faith seeking understanding.” Our starting point is unconditional faith in God’s truth and goodness. That conviction remains absolute whether we arrive at understanding or not. The truth of our understanding is verified when it reinforces our faith. What weakens faith cannot be true, because truth is truth, whether we know it through reason or revelation, and truth cannot contradict itself. Since God always wins, discouragement is always false.

As we work to establish the Kingdom, Jesus says, “Do not rejoice because [you see] the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because [faith tells you] your names are written in heaven.” Action depends on judging what we need to do. Perseverance depends on not judging whether we are getting it done.

PRAY: “Lord, I know you can do all things.”

PRACTICE: Focus on fidelity, not success.