Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
I do not watch a lot of movies, but I love when I can find God even in the stories on the screen. Recently, I was able to view the current adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast.” It was both visually beautiful with wonderful settings and costumes and had lovely music and singing. When I was preparing to write this reflection, it struck me that much of this movie revolves around people making judgments of other people who are different from them: the townspeople judge Belle as “odd”, the Beast judges Belle as a common peasant, and Belle and most of the other people judge the Beast- as just that- a ferocious, dangerous beast. All of this judgment creates tension and even leads to violence. Jesus in today’s gospel reading recognizes the hazards of judging others, and He invites His disciples to step back and look inward to tend to our own faults first before even considering the faults of others. After careful reflection, He invites us to step forward with mercy and compassion when encountering others.
Today’s gospel reading is challenging- Jesus reminds us to “stop judging, that you may not be judged.” He goes on further to explain that our large sins/ faults (wooden beams) make it impossible for us to properly see the small sins (splinters) in others. How could we possibly see the people we are judging when our sight is so impaired? And yet, I often find judgment and build barriers to others around me.
So what is Jesus calling us to do? We need to start with the recognition that we are all sinners in need of God’s grace and mercy. When we start from this place of mercy, we are not as likely to leap forward in judgment against others, since we know that we are sinners just like them.
I think the character Belle portrays how we might interact with those who are very different than us. Instead of immediate condemnation, she looks at the Beast with compassion. She tends his wounds and remains open to learning more about him and his ways, even though he is so different than her. By not making an immediate opinion, she provides the opportunity for discussion, fellowship and eventually love that would have seemed unlikely.
Although I know that this is just a story or fairy tale, I think that living a life of mercy and non-judgment is something that we can put into practice in our daily living. There are so many people that are different than me- people from different countries, different faiths, different sexual orientation, different political ideas, and different occupations. Jesus calls me to treat each of these individuals with compassion and love. This is not an easy undertaking, but I know that Jesus empowers all of His disciples with His Spirit. It is with this grace that we can refrain from immediate opinion and remain open and welcoming to the other person. This is the beginning of building relationships not based on judgment of how different we are, but how we are alike in many ways. We are all made in the image of God, sinners in need of God’s mercy, and loved by God despite our failings and resistance. This is where our relationships with one another need to start if we want to live as children of God.
Here is where I find God speaking to me- when I live a life of compassion and love, treating others for who they are, and leaving judgment for God alone, then I can be instrumental in bringing reconciliation and wholeness to the people that I encounter. Through God’s grace, each of us can transform the world. When we live as disciples of Christ we are not heading to a place of “happily ever after,” but we are journeying towards building the kingdom of God.
Loving Father, you are rich in mercy and compassion. Jesus shows us how to live through encounter and love. Send down Your Spirit, so we can receive your mercy and thereby share this with others. May our lives bring reconciliation to the world, so all can know You and Your mercy. We pray this through Christ, our LORD.
Amen.
Marylynn B. Herchline