April 5. Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?’   “You see, I’m right. I know I’m right and expect the judge to uphold my point of view.” Labour and political disputes and even family disputes are reasoned out like that. “That may be so, but compromises may be necessary and circumstances can also have an influence.  A poor child stealing to buy food, or a teenager stealing to buy drugs isn’t quite the same, is it?”  “Or a mother who is an addict selling her daughter for the money?” “You’re right too but on top of that there is a growing awareness of the question of mercy. Pope Francis really challenges me when he even calls for a merciful judgement for everyone.” 

Reflect, share and act. Scripture: Nicodemus said to the Pharisees, Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?’  From John 7:40-53 .   Pope Francis:    Mercy is not opposed to justice but rather expresses God’s way of reaching out to the sinner, offering him a new chance to look at himself, convert and believe. FM21. JUBILEE.  A reality to do with eternal life is God’s judgement, both at the end of our individual lives and at the end of history. We should prepare ourselves consciously for the moment when our lives will be judged, but we must always do this from the standpoint of hope, the theological virtue that sustains our lives and shields them from groundless fear. The judgement of God, who is love will surely be based on love, and in particular on all that we have done or failed to do with regard to those in need, in whose midst Christ, the Judge himself, is present.  Clearly, then, we are speaking of a judgement unlike any handed down by human, earthly tribunals; it should be understood as a rapport of truth with the God who is love and with oneself, within the unfathomable mystery of divine mercy. Sacred Scripture states: “You have taught your people that the righteous must be kind, and you have filled your children with good hope, because you give repentance for sins, so that… when we are judged, we may expect mercy” ( Wis 12:19.22).  SNC 22. Choose an act of love and sacrifice from the list, also published at www.marfam.org.za. This weekend start preparing for Holy Week in a family with a Family prayer Meal, Family Reconciliation Moment, Stations of the Cross for Families