Measuring Up to Jesus Way of Life - Weekday Homily Video

For many of us, the date 9/11 will always evoke a wide range of emotions and memories. Everything from shock and sadness to anger and fear and many more. Even though it has been twenty-four years since that tragic day, watching the news this morning can bring us back to where we were, what we were doing and who we first called.  

Taking Measurements

In today’s gospel, Jesus says to us, “For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” That word, measure, caught my attention. For we measure things all day long…whether we are building something, cooking, or checking on the number of people who visit a website, we are constantly measuring.  

But when we talk about measurement, we first need to decide what we want to measure, then how to do it, record it, make an assessment, and then draw a conclusion. Don’t worry I won’t go into reliability and validity…that’s another homily.  

The point I want us to consider is what Jesus is raising when He talks about measurement and that is the measurement of our moral and ethical lives. Jesus is trying to help us have the knowledge, attention, and discernment of how we are living each day. He wants us to know as Saint Paul says that we are to be people of compassion and kindness, people of humility, gentleness…and patience. 

The Report Card

So let’s go back to measurement…what letter grade would you or I give ourselves today when it comes to each of those five….at home: how are we doing with compassion and kindness, while driving: how’d we do with patience (that’s a tough one) or at work how are we doing with humility and gentleness?  

We can also ask what grade we would give ourselves, today, when it comes to our ability to forgive one another. (Keep in mind, Jesus tells us that our effort in all these areas will be reciprocated by God…) Well, if we haven’t earned all A’s, the good news is that it’s only a little past Noon so, there’s time for improvement, maybe a little extra credit if we go the extra mile.  

Using Our Measurements

Saint Paul calls us to put on the love of Christ and to let the peace of Christ control our hearts. As a nation, on 9/11, our civic leaders needed to oversee a plan to rescue, recover, and protect us. They needed to be knowledgeable, use reason, and determine a measured response to achieve our safety. Without a moral and ethical framework, work a world war could have erupted as well as mass panic in our nation.  

Many involved in the rescue, recovery, and protection of us…are people of faith. People who are grounded in the Judeo-Christian teachings of how we are to live our lives. Saint Paul often uses the image of us being one body. Just think of the last time you stubbed your toe or had a headache…and how it affected you while you tried to deal with the pain.  

Judging Less

The same can be said one of us is hurting…whether at home, school, work, or neighborhood…Jesus is trying to help us--to help one another to manage our pain, fear, embarrassment, etc. Jesus is calling us to pay attention to those around us in need…and to love and pray for them, to forgive, to lend, and to stop being judgmental or people who condemn others.  

On some days this can seem like mission impossible…and without the grace of God, it is… for we need God to rise above our fears and wounded natures and hearts… we need to pray for the wisdom, strength, and love of God, and we need the grace of Confession to be able to forgive and accept others requests---to be forgiven, and we definitely need the Word of God and the Eucharist to enlighten our minds and nourish our souls.  

Jesus's Standards

So, here’s the good news, whatever grade we’ve earned so far, being here as one body of Christ with Jesus, we now can have the hope…of being able to measure up to Jesus’ way of life whether in compassion or kindness, humility or gentleness, patience or forgiveness. 

And, when we do, we will find the peace of Christ that we all desire. 

• Today’s Readings
  
  
• Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
  
  
• To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)