Judging others

June 26, 2023 – Monday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062623.cfm)

Moral life is all about our practice of christian faith in life. It begs the question as to how we live out our lives as we believe in Jesus.

We do live nowadays in a world in which it is very common to judge, criticize, & condemn other. Easy for us to see the failures & mistakes of others, dwell on their sins, points out their weaknesses, & speak of their faults to others. Yes, we do have the tendency & the habit to judge, criticize, & condemn others, that greatly influence our thinking, attitude & actions towards others.

In this regard, Jesus teaches & advices us to “stop judging… stop measuring others”. Meaning, to stop the habit of judging, criticizing & condemning others.” Why? Because the habit corrupts our very person. Such habit not only unhealthy & harmful to the judged other, but above all to the judging person. Judging, criticizing & condemning others makes us not only sinful, but above all corrupt persons.

Pope Francis, once said: “We are all sinners, but we are not all corrupt. Sinners are accepted but not the corrupt.” Meaning, sinners are forgiven, but corrupt are not tolerated & accepted in the church. So, stop the corrupting habit of judging, criticizing & condemning others.

How? Jesus asserts: “Remove out your beam first, & then you can remove out your brother’s speck.” In other words: “Bago mo linisin ang dungis ng iyong kapwa, hugasan mo ang putik sa mukha.” In Cebuano: “Manalamin sa, bag-o mamintana.” Have a good look then at yourself first. If you have something to judge, criticize & condemn on others, do it to yourself first& perhaps you will be more slow & careful to do so.

Lord, teach us to do & live your ways in our daily witness of our faith in life. So, May it be. Amen