Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 7:1-5

Jesus said to his disciples: "Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be  measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove that splinter from your eye,' while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother's eye."

It is so easy to judge somebody else and ignore our own faults. Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel reading that we need to ignore the speck in our brothers eye, because you are walking around with a log in yours. We become blind to our own faults but see clearly the faults of others. Sometimes we are so good at judging others that we probably think this is a gift. We might not see any harm in judging others, but when we hear that someone has judged us, we get angry and hurt. Jesus tells us turnabout is fair play. How you judge others you too will be judged. Judgmentalism is so rampant in our society because we see ourselves as nearly perfect and everyone else with flaws. We want to change people and make them like us. Our own judgments become the gossip that kills the soul of others. However, we must learn to let go of the faults of others so that we can begin to see our own faults.

God can see everything in us, even the things that we do not realize we do wrong. Every sin we commit is known to God. By looking inward, we start to recognize these sins so that they can be forgiven. But to see inward, we must learn to see the good in others. We must learn to have mercy and see beyond the faults of our brothers and sisters. It is so easy for us to misjudge someone. We are biased in our judgment and usually do not have all the facts. God knows all and can see all. He is the true judge and He has unlimited mercy and forgiveness. How often do you judge and condemn your brother or sister? How often do you engage in gossip about your neighbor? Whatever judgment you pass on your fellow man, you will face the same condemnation. If we forgive and forget, Christ will forgive us.  Try to work beyond the gossip and learn to praise your brothers and sisters.  To participate in gossip is to participate in scandal.  Scandal is destructive to society and not constructive.  We must learn to build relationships and not tear them down with idle talk.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus, I pass judgment on my friends.

I see their weakness and ignore my own.

Give me the strength to see beyond my judgment

So I can see my own weakness and faults.

Give me the humility to be merciful others and

The wisdom to recognize their beauty.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon