For with the judgment, you pronounce you will be judged,
and the measure you give will be the measure you get. (Mt 7)
That night, the upstairs neighbors did not let their downstairs neighbor sleep because of the noise they made. At that moment, the downstairs neighbor thought, “Tomorrow I will go to them and speak my mind.” The neighbor who was thinking this was young and tough. The next day, he went up the stairs, and it was only then that he found out that his neighbor’s son had passed away in the wee hours of the morning. During the entire evening, the father had held the poor child, burning with fever, in his arms, pacing back and forth, as if trying to prevent him from leaving this earth, as if trying to pass on to his son his own life and strength.
“I was so sorry, Lord! Today, I remember those steps, on that evening.” What do we know, Lord? Our own interpretation of things is so often mistaken… It is necessary to know everything, absolutely everything, in order to issue judgment, and not even this seems to be enough.
We make so many mistakes! And we make them because we get carried away by rash judgments of unfounded suspicions. We perceive only a few external manifestations from others. But these external manifestations frequently hide the true inner situation which only God knows. And yet, we dare to formulate those blunt and definite judgments… judgments that are so negative! And so poor!
How many family crises can become acts of kindness if only the husband or wife understands that the one or the other is tired after a long and difficult day! Working together and rush-hour traffic in the city would be so different if only our judgments had a tinge of prudence and charity!
The Lord, who knows the true roots of man’s actions, understands, justifies, and forgives; men, who ignore almost everything that occurs in the hearts of people, often formulate negative and condemnatory judgments. Charity is the only thing that can truly stop any rash judgment. Understanding brings us to judge others as if we ourselves were being judged, with serenity and looking at the positive side of things. Saint Bernard wisely advices: “Even if you should see your neighbor doing what is wrong, refuse to pass judgment on him, excuse him instead. Excuse his intention even if you cannot excuse the act, which may be the fruit of ignorance or surprise or chance. Even if it is very clear, you must still endeavor to convince yourself by saying: It must have been an overwhelming temptation.”
If we take time to see the positive side of others, it is possible to help them: the Samaritan woman, the good thief, the adulteress, Peter after his denial, Thomas the Apostle who did not believe that the Master is risen, and countless others during the years of His public life and throughout the centuries felt that the Lord understood them and judged them with benevolence. Jesus knew very well that despite their mistakes, all of them were capable of great love, of starting a new life.
An attentive gaze, filled with charity, will surely not be mistaken. “For love,” says Sancho, “looks through spectacles that make copper seem gold, poverty wealth, and bleary eyes pearls.” We too need huge spectacles.
Let us resolve to transform our hearts into a great bonfire, like the farmers, in order to burn the thorns and thistles of bad judgment. Let us judge generously, with a big heart, just like the Lord does. In this way, we give God joy.
And let us not forget that the measure we use on others will be that measured out to us.
From The Day that Changed My Life, pp. 211-213
Photo by Christian Stahl on Unsplash
