DO NOT JUDGE

PRAYER MOMENT

Monday 22 June 2015, St Thomas More

DO NOT JUDGE

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; because the judgements you give are the judgements you will get and the amount you measure out wil be the amount you will be given.”  (Matthew 7:1-5)

Reflection. Thomas More stood almost alone in resisting the pressure to conform to the climate of acquiescence to the king. In his letters to his daughter, Margaret, he continually repeats that he can, “see into no man’s conscience,” and he refused to attribute to others base motives for their obeying the king. It is as clear as daylight that most people at that time did what the king wanted so as to preserve their wealth and positions. They were not prepared to forego their priviledged status for a quibble of conscience that they had not even propely examined. They had thought one way before and now it was more convenient to think another way. They did not question the inconsistency of their new stance. Thomas, on the other hand, paid great attention to his conscience and found he could not obey the king. So he refused and went to his death as a result.   

Prayer. Lord, strengthen us to follow the way we see to be right even if it costs us a lot. Help us not to judge others but, insofar as we can, put a good interpretation on their actions. Amen.

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