Day 1
Matthew 7:1-6 (The Voice) Read this passage 2 times.
Jesus: If you judge other people, then you will find that you, too, are being judged. 2 Indeed, you will be judged by the very standards to which you hold other people.
So when someone is tempted to criticize his neighbor because her house isn’t clean enough, she seems ill-tempered, or she is a bit flighty—he should remember those same standards and judgments will come back to him. No one should criticize his neighbor for being short-tempered one morning, when he is snippish and snappish and waspish all the time.
Jesus: 3 Why is it that you see the dust in your brother’s or sister’s eye, but you can’t see what is in your own eye? 4 Don’t ignore the wooden plank in your eye, while you criticize the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eyelashes. 5 That type of criticism and judgment is a sham! Remove the plank from your own eye, and then perhaps you will be able to see clearly how to help your brother flush out his sawdust. 6 Don’t give precious things to dogs. Don’t cast your pearls before swine. If you do, the pigs will trample the pearls with their little pigs’ feet, and then they will turn back and attack you.
REFLECTION:
What is the word or phrase that resonated with you?
Read the passage again and put yourself into the scene
Where are you standing while Jesus is teaching? Who are the people around you? What are smells around you? Are the people around you attentive? Are they distracted? Are you distracted?
What are the habits in your life that leads to judging?
Who are the people you easily judge?
What is your blind spot about these people?
What is your blind spot about yourself?
As you become aware of judging and any blind spots you may have...how does that make you feel?
Ask Jesus to help you see yourself more clearly...What do you see in yourself that needs healing?
Pray about your answers with Jesus present. Sit quietly now and notice what Jesus is saying to you. What would he like you to notice? What is the invitation?
Now make notes in your journal about your time with Jesus and what you noticed.
When you are finished, you may simply pray the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray or whatever the Spirit leads you to pray.
Day 2
Repeat Day 1
Settle in your quiet place. Sit comfortably with your Bible, your journal and maybe a cup of coffee …or you may want to hold a small cross in your hands, or you may want to light a candle signaling the presence of the Holy Spirit. Whatever is comfortable for you.
You have been invited into this sacred space by Jesus and Jesus is sitting with you. Completing this reflection is not the goal nor is rushing through it…simply enjoy being with Jesus. Be open, aware and attention to his presence.
Note how you’re feeling as you come to prayer. Are you excited, rested, tired, anxious? Note what you desire to come out of this time with Jesus. It could be that your desire is to live a simple life with great meaning.
St. Ignatius has shared a prayer with us for Generosity that you may pray during this sermon series.
Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve,
To give and not to count the cost,
To fight and not to need the wounds,
To Toil and not seek for rest,
To labor and not to seek reward,
Except that of knowing that I do your will.
Amen.
Repetition is a powerful tool that reminds us that more facts and more knowledge does not give us deep roots that support a deep relationship with Jesus for Kingdom living. We grow and transform as we savor and just “be” with Trinity. Enjoying the love and presence of God and the scriptures that gives us life.
Day 3
Settle in your quiet place. Sit comfortably with your Bible, your journal and maybe a cup of coffee …or you may want to hold a small cross in your hands, or you may want to light a candle signaling the presence of the Holy Spirit. Whatever is comfortable for you. You have been invited into this sacred space by Jesus and Jesus is sitting with you. Completing this reflection is not the goal nor is rushing through it…simply enjoy being with Jesus. Be open, aware and attention to his presence.
Note how you’re feeling as you come to prayer. Are you excited, rested, tired, anxious? Note what you desire to come out of this time with Jesus. It could be that your desire is to live a simple life with great meaning.
St. Ignatius has shared a prayer with us for Generosity that you may pray during this sermon series.
Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve,
To give and not to count the cost,
To fight and not to need the wounds,
To Toil and not seek for rest,
To labor and not to seek reward,
Except that of knowing that I do your will.
Amen.
Reflection
Read Luke 6:37 Common English Bible Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn and you won’t be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Follow the same pattern as in Day 1 & 2.
What makes the water shimmer for you when you read this passage?
What connection do you see between forgiveness, judging and condemning?
Think about a time when you may have unfairly judged or condemned someone? Maybe that someone was you?
Enter into a personal dialogue with God. There is no shame in being honest with God….respond truthfully and authentically.
What feelings are stirred in you?
Name where you are challenged, resistant, or where you want to push back?
Just rest now and wait in the presence of God. Allow some time for the word to sink in.
What is the invitation you are sensing from God?
How can you live out this passage today?
Pray about your responses in a conversation with Trinity.
Now make notes in your journal about your time with Jesus and what you noticed. When you are finished, you may simply pray the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray.
Day 4
Repeat Day 3
Day 5
Matthew 7:1-6 …NLT
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. [a] The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. [b]
3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye [c] when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, [d] ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. 6 “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. [e] Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.
Settle in your quiet place. Sit comfortably with your Bible, your journal and maybe a cup of coffee …or you may want to hold a small cross in your hands, or you may want to light a candle signaling the presence of the Holy Spirit. Whatever is comfortable for you. You have been invited into this sacred space by Jesus and Jesus is sitting with you. Completing this reflection is not the goal nor is rushing through it…simply enjoy being with Jesus. Be open, aware and attention to his presence.
Note how you’re feeling as you come to prayer. Are you excited, rested, tired, anxious? Note what you desire to come out of this time with Jesus. It could be that your desire is to live a simple life with great meaning.
St. Ignatius has shared a prayer with us for Generosity that you may pray during this sermon series.
Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve,
To give and not to count the cost,
To fight and not to need the wounds,
To Toil and not seek for rest,
To labor and not to seek reward,
Except that of knowing that I do your will.
Amen.
Reflection
Read this translation of the scripture two times.
Do different word(s) or phrases stand out to you or the same as previous days?
How do you confront the sin of others?
How do you confront your own sin?
What role does humility play in how you experience others who are in need of correction?
What are the benefits of forgiving others?
How would you like to have an honest conversation with Jesus about your responses to judging, criticism, condemnation, humility and forgiveness?
Now make notes in your journal about your time with Jesus and what you noticed.
When you are finished, you may simply pray the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray.