Readings:
1 Chronicles 24-26
Sirach 10
Galatians 6

Galatians 6

“Judge not” is a favorite saying in today’s world, and if they mean we aren’t to judge someone unfairly or harshly then yes I’d agree, but all too often it’s used by people (both Christian and secular) to mean that Christians are never supposed to say something is right or wrong. This couldn’t be further from the truth. This interpretation of “judge not” is from satan and has caused immense suffering and harm.

Jesus tells us to remove the plank from our eye, and then assist our brother with the speck in his eye. This means that those of us who’ve overcome a habitual sin, or have turned towards God and away from sin, we are supposed to help our brethren to walk the same path that we’ve been graced to walk upon.

If that wasn’t clear in Jesus’ own words from the Gospels, then Paul makes it explicitly clear here. He says if our brother falls into sin, we are to “restore him” and we’re to do so gently. Fraternal corrections are key to spiritual growth, it helps to hear that maybe something wasn’t the best choice, and do we think that’s what Jesus would want from us.

And we do this because we are called to bear each other’s burdens, to help shoulder the load and keep on walking down the narrow path. We do this because love of neighbor fulfills all the law.

This letter to the Galatians closes with a postscript written by Paul himself, and reminds them that circumcision counts for nothing because we’re new creations through baptism.

Tomorrow’s Readings:
1 Chronicles 27-29
Sirach 11
1 John 1