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by Rev. Fr. V.V. Paulose, Toronto, Canada
"Don't judge or you too will be judged." (Mathew 7:1)
Do you have the moral right to pass judgments on
others?
Spiritual discernment and judgement in lines with the standards of Bible is the
prerogative of Christians. Before we judge others, we ourselves should undergo
confession and be judged. " First get rid off the log in your own eyes, then you
will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye."( Mathew 7:5)
" But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way."
( 1 Corinthians 11:31)
Most of the judgements we do are for covering our own wrongdoings; most often it
is done to hurt others and not for correction and confession. This kind of
judgement leads to enmity, bitterness, open fight, and ultimately a mess and no
peace. Nobody is patient to accept any types of judgements and every body is in
their own way acts as God almighty. Their ways are the laws unto them. This is a
very dangerous path of destruction and lawlessness.
Even the saints dare not dare to delve into the tents of others. "Do ye not know
that saints shall judge the world?" (1 Corinthians 6:12) Any way, each one of us
should stand for the final judgement in front of the righteous God – Jesus "for
God will bring every deed in to judgement." (Ecclesiastical 12 :14). Unmasking
of the sheep in the clothing of wolf is highly warranted..
A brother in the monastery committed a fault; Abba Moses was asked to judge but
he refused to go. Then the priest sent some one to him saying, "come, for every
one is waiting for you." He got up and went. He took a leaking jug and filled it
with water and carried it with him. When somebody asked him, "What is this
father?" He said, "My sins run out behind me, and I don't see them, and today
I'm coming to judge the errors of another." When they heard that, they said no
more to the brother but forgave him.
"A brother sinned and the priest ordered him to go out of the church, Abba
Bessarion got up and went out with him saying. " I, too am a sinner." " Look
beneath the surface so you can judge correctly." (John 7:24). Let this lent
season be a golden time for reflection, correction, repentance, confession and
reconciliation with Jesus and with our fellow beings then call a spade as a
spade.
Jesus, judge our life by thy spirit and let us have the tears for correction for our sins. Give us cleansed hearts, minds and bodies without any blemish to stand in front of your final judgement. Let us have the moral power to judge the wrong of our children and discipline them in thy path. Let all the judges be the judges for them first then judge others. All we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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