(Rom 2:1-11; Ps 62:2-3, 6-7, 9; Lk 11:42-46)
Part of the challenge I have as a Catholic is trying to wade through the sometimes seemingly contradictory lessons of Jesus. This came to mind as I reflected upon today’s readings – where both Jesus and Paul rail against judging others – and compared it mentally with Christ’s blueprint for pointing out differences with those who wrong us or our communities.
So what’s going on? Aren’t we supposed to point out to others what they’re doing wrong? And – if so – doesn’t that involve judgment?
I believe that God can reveal truths in a myriad ways, and this belief was reinforced this week. The same day I first read and began considering today’s selections, my wife – unwittingly to her – helped me better understand the difference.
On our way back from the library, we encountered a mother who was having a hard time keeping her children under control. In her arms she held two little ones, one of which was in the middle of a massive tantrum and the second of which was thinking about it. The third slightly older child was walking alongside and behaving but looking on in cringing embarrassment.
Regardless of circumstances, mothers are often overwhelmed, and I’ve seen situations like this play out a jillion times, in grocery stores and playgrounds, parking lots and malls. And all too often I see passersby clucking their tongues, tut-tuting about how out of control the children are, wondering why she couldn’t do better. They are – in a word – judging her. “Why can’t she control her children?” They say, under their breaths or in their minds. “Why can’t she be a better mother?”
But on that walk back from the library, my wife took a different path. She slowed down and – with a friendly smile – she said, “Is there anything I can do to help?” I think just having a warm outsider’s voice served a bit to startle the fussy children to quiet down a bit. “No, thank you,” said the mother, smiling. “Don’t worry; we’ve all been there!” said my wife with a chuckle, and I nodded. The relieved mother chuckled and said, “It’ll get better in a few years!” And we all agreed. She gathered up her kids, and I pray she felt a bit more kinship with her community, realizing that some people were eager to help and support her.
Both my wife and those who would be judgmental have similar starting points: They witness a seeming problem. They formulate a mental mindset: “This isn’t right.” But then – and here’s the key difference – the judgmental cast judgment, while my wife actually tried to help solve the problem.
There is no contradiction. Jesus himself sums this up in today’s Gospel selection, in his rebuke against the scholars of the law: “You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”
Paul agrees in today’s reading: “You, O man, are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment. For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things.”
We’re all sinners. Jesus is the light and the way. We should care only about the ultimate judgment of the Lord, unlike the Pharisees, as Christ pointed out: “. . . you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.”
So, what are the action items here? Speaking for my own life, I’ve tried to follow these lessons of Christ:
• Do better. We’re all sinners. Jesus hates the hypocrisy inherent in judging others for sins we commit ourselves. Obviously, the purer we try to keep our lives, the less likely we are to slip into hypocrisy.
• Judge yourself. If you have a strong inclination to judge, feel free to turn your critical eye inward. An examination of conscience is vital to the Sacrament of Confession, and trying to see where we fall short in God’s eyes is crucial to being forgiven of those sins . . . which hopefully leads to doing better (as above). Jesus himself comments on this in today’s Gospel selection: “Woe to you Pharisees! . . . you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.”
• Observe. Sometimes situations are not what they seem. Maybe the person you think is suffering from sloth is just lost his job and doesn’t know where to start getting a new one. Maybe the person you think is a bad parent for having unruly offspring is caring for a child with special needs who is physically incapable of exhibiting self-control. Maybe the person you would judge as wrathful has lost a loved one and is lashing out in her gut-wrenching grief.
• Be part of the solution. Rather than jumping to judge others, see if you can’t help them overcome their sins. If someone you know seems to suffer from sloth, invite him to volunteer with you. If someone seems to struggle with gluttony, maybe you know of some recipes that are filling but healthy and nutritious. If nothing else, we can lovingly encourage others to do better, perhaps recommending the Church or the Sacraments as appropriate.
• Pray. We can’t go wrong praying for those who falter or for those who need help. If I’m impassioned enough about someone to judge them, I should be impassioned enough to pray for them.
When it comes to ultimate judgment, God takes no joy in condemning souls to Hell. Ideally, we’d all work together to ensure that everyone makes it into Heaven. Christ died to make everyone’s salvation possible, and the fact that some people won’t take advantage of that opportunity should sadden us all. The impulse to judge should not be the end of our obligation toward others, but rather the beginning.
