A Do Over (03/25/2025)

Last evening, I was blessed to be among a group of adults who took time to come together, build community over a meal provided by members of our group and to break open the Word of God. I felt very blessed to be among them. We were studying the parables, the stories that Jesus taught to teach us lessons for the journey. Usually we read the passages, we discuss them in small groups, and then we bring the thoughts together in large group for a fuller grasp of the LORD’s message to us. But last night, I wandered from our usual practice. I spoke too much; they shared too little. And at the end of the night, I wished I could have a do over.

One of the parables we discussed was that of the lost sheep from Luke 15:1-7. While most focused on “the lost,” one woman in our group was led to focus on the of judging others. We can do that. We can self-righteously judge another we deem on externals alone to be “less righteous.” We spent a few moments on that, but most of our time was spent on “the lost.” That was until I had my reflection time at the end of the day. In that time, all alone with the LORD, I realized that I had too often lost sight of why we were together, I had taken group time to tell my story rather than to lift up Jesus’ words and how they touched those present.

As I said, we can be very judgmental of others. But can we judge ourselves? Do we judge ourselves? Last evening, as I pondered my day and reflected on it, I realized that I had used the community time poorly. The Spirit was leading the group, but I don’t think I was listening to the Spirit. Last evening, with regret for the way I led the group, I asked for the grace to lead the group well in the future.

My point is judging. We are called to daily judge not others but ourselves, to prayerfully seek guidance from the Spirit for our days, our travels, our activities, and also the grace to cooperate with the Spirit’s guidance and to reflect upon the day and how we did. Jesus taught us about this as He taught us about “the Way.” We shouldn’t be focused on the splinter in another’s eye when we have a wooden beam in our own (Mt. 7:3-5).

But there is hope for all of us. His name is Jesus Christ. He comes to find us when we are lost. Because of the LORD’s loving mercy, we can try again. We are consoled and comforted by the LORD who came to call sinners to himself and by the loving mercy of the LORD when we humbly surrender and allow the Good Shepherd to carry us back to His flock.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.