"Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way." The Psalmist's prayer is an easy one to make since for all of us who believe in Jesus desire to know the way to everlasting life in heaven.

We may read today's Gospel passage as an answer to the Psalmist's prayer. Jesus puts before us quite a high ideal for a more perfect Christian life. Knowing our own weaknesses and limitations we may be somewhat dismayed at Jesus' high expectations of us, but we are consoled by the certainty that God does not demand anything of us without granting us the grace to do it. Without in any way lowering the high ideal which Jesus sets before us, we may from our human perspective feel that, even with God's grace, there is a range of difficulty in achieving what Jesus demands of us. Let us then begin from where we are and try to accomplish those things that are more easily attainable for us. Let us not give in to negative tendencies to judge other people but rather learn to be compassionate because our heavenly Father is compassionate with us.