"Do not judge and you will not be judged"

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Today in the gospel, Jesus talks about what is one of our most common failings. ''Do not judge and you will not be judged.'' Could any of us say that we have never criticized, thought or talked badly about another person? Why do we do it? Is it because of pride when we think we are superior to someone else and we talk about their failings to show that we are better than them? Or is it because we know that others are better than else and so we criticize them in order to pull them down and build ourselves up? Jesus uses the example of a splinter and a log to show us that we sometimes criticize others for tiny faults when we commit greater ones ourselves. We know that as followers of Jesus we are called to show the love and compassion that he showed in his life.

 

To judge another is to fail in showing compassion. When a woman accused of adultery was brought to Jesus, he reminded the accusers of their sins and caused them to drop the stones of condemnation. ''Neither do I condemn you,'' said Jesus, showing his compassion for the suffering woman. He asks us to remember that we too have our failings but that he sees the good in us and continues to love us. We are quick to see the faults in others but Jesus calls us to see the good in them also. We are all so upset with the wars and suffering that is going on in many parts of the world. Showing understanding and compassion and resisting the tendence to judge others harshly is a way to bring a little more peace into that corner of the world where we live.