Judging others

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.”

Reflection

Remove the wooden beam from your eye first. The Gospel invites us to self-examination. If we see our faults and failures, accept our mistakes and misdeeds, and admit our need to change, we will refrain from judging other people and demanding them to change.

Knowing our need for continued conversion, we see and treat other people with compassion, concern, and care. We are not too critical, easy to condemn, and always ready to contradict. We are considerate. We look at ourselves before making any rash and harsh comments.

When we judge others, we may be guilty of self-projection: We may point to others’ faults that are really in us. Thus, it is important to see first our intention and motivation. Before we compare and pass judgment on other people, let us look at how we stand before God, for, as Jesus reminds us, the measure with which we measure will be measured out to us.

What are the wooden beams that we have to remove so that we can see better?

SOURCE: “366 Days with the Lord 2012,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.,); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: books@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.