A reading from the gospel according to Matthew 7:1-5
Jesus said to his disciples:
1 “Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
2 For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
3 Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye?
5 You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”
Reflection
When we say all men are create equal, we mean we are equal in dignity and human rights. Yet we are not really all the same. Each of us has a unique personality and each one has a unique weakness. Each tribe or nation is different from the others. What we can do is to respect each other because respect begets respect.
We are not allowed to judge for the main reason that we are incapable to reading what’s in the mind and heart of people. Only God has that capability. Only God can judge His creature.
We have our own standards and more often than not, we think our standards are better than others. And so, we lift up our own selves and look down on others. We become prone to focus on what’s wrong with others forgetting that we, too, have many wrongs. When we judge others, we are actually judging ourselves. Instead of being judgmental, why not learn to be appreciative? It is much better to promote positivity than negativity. Imagine a world where people accept each other’s differences and weaknesses. I bet there would be peace on earth!
The world is indeed full of hypocrisy and a lot of people are judgmental. Yet we still want to believe that this is a beautiful world and people can change. Otherwise, we are hopeless.
*****
“Do not judge.” is one of the most quoted bible verses but it is also one of the most misunderstood. In reality, we judge things and people most of the time because the situation calls for it. We need to judge in order to know which one is good or bad. We judge who will win in a contest. We judge in order to get the best applicant for a job. We judge who will become our husband or wife or even close friend.
The problem lies in the way we judge. Many people judge in order to condemn. They judge based on their biases, whims and personal standards. They forget that God is ultimately the sole and only judge. Let us first listen to the word of God and ask His guidance as make a choice from time to time.
*****
As human beings, we all have imperfections, big and small. Some of these imperfections which some people call weaknesses are inherent or natural because we are born with them. Others are developed as we grow up. The truth is we all have weaknesses and we all commit mistakes. A large part of our mission on earth is endeavor to improve ourselves first and foremost before trying to improve others.
In the gospel reading above, Jesus tells us to stop criticizing and condemning others. For one thing, we do not have a complete understanding of their situation and background. For another thing, we also have our problems to solve. Therefore let us mind our own business. Let us focus on improving ourselves so that we can be capable of lifting up other people instead of putting them down.
Instead of judging others, why not judge ourselves? In fact, the most difficult person to judge is oneself. It is because we have the tendency to look favorably on ourselves. It is pride that hinders us to see and admit our own weaknesses and mistakes. That is why wants us first to remove spiritual blindness so that we can clearly see and understand what other people undergoing through and why they behave as such.
The world will be more peaceful and progressive if we all help one another grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually instead of judging one another.
