Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
For as you judge, so will you be judged,
and the measure with which you measure
will be measured out to you.
- Matthew 7

The Twelfth Week of Ordinary Time

"Jesus said,' Fear no one.'" On the Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time we can be consoled as Jesus tells us we don't have to fear anyone. God will take care of us, so we can be courageous in proclaiming this Good News to others. Jesus tells us in Matthew's Gospel, "Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

Wednesday is the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist with its own readings.

The first readings this week are from the Second Book of Kings. It is the story of the invasion by Assyria and then the invasion by Babylon, resulting in captivity that left a remnant behind. The week closes with a reading from the Book of Lamentations.

This week we continue reading from Matthew's Gospel. Jesus continues his challenge to follow him more completely. "Stop judging, that you may not be judged." "Do to others whatever you would have them do to you." "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing." "Who do you say that I am?" On Saturday, Matthew quotes the prophet Isaiah, "He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases."

On the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jesus invites us to love him and to receive him. He makes his message to us so clear: "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

Daily Prayer This Week

Most of us know that having faith is more about confidence and trust in the Lord than it is about theological understanding or assent to truths. The biggest barrier to our more complete following of our Lord in faith is fear. This is a wonderful week to ask our Lord to heal us so that we can not be afraid and just have faith in him as we place our faith in his calming presence.

We can begin each day, sitting or standing at the edge of our bed and, in 30 seconds, simply name our desire. "Lord, thank you for this day. Please heal my fears. I want to place my trust in you more completely. Be with me in the tough stuff today." When we are in the shower or while getting dressed, as we we are heading to work or doing laundry, when we are walking down a hall to a meeting or even at a store shopping, we can expand on our prayer - again, briefly and in a friend to friend conversation with our Lord. "Dear Lord, I'm going to be facing several things today that feel like storms at sea. Don't let me lose sight of your presence with me today. Give me courage and an inner peace to do what you call me to do."

The phrases from Matthew's Gospel can work their way into our week so easily in this context. "Lord, let me know your love and mercy, that I might treat those I'm now judging with more of the love and mercy you show me." "Lord, it feels like you are inviting me to take a narrower path today than the one I usually take, following the way everyone around me goes. Help me choose your way with greater freedom and peace."

There is a real and sustaining joy that accompanies this sense of intimacy with our Lord, in the midst of our daily, busy lives. It seems right to take a few moments each night to express our thanks to the Lord for the gifts of the day.