2nd Monday of Lent "Don't Judge"

 In the Gospel Jesus gives an exhortation with regard to sins. He tries to help His disciples to not judge or condemn others. He said, “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.”

Sometimes, we don’t know what it really means to judge others. Often times we see someone do something, which appears to be sinful, and we make a judgment in our mind about the action. We may say to our self, “that’s wrong” with regard to the action and then we feel guilty because we think we have judged them. However, if we merely judge an action, we really are not judging the intention of the person. Therefore, it is not sinful to judge the action itself.

However, we are not permitted to judge whether or not the person has committed a sin, nor do we presume what is in their heart or the state of their soul. We are not to judge the state of another person’s soul and say to our self, they committed a mortal sin, or they are going to hell. We really should never say someone has sinned, because we don’t know their intention. Perhaps they acted out of fear or emotion and weren’t thinking before they acted.

Rather, we should assume innocence, and be merciful as Jesus is merciful, to forgive as Jesus forgives, to not condemn, but rather give the other person the benefit of doubt.

When we realize we have sinned by judging others, let us be like the prophet Daniel, and admit our sin to the Lord, cry out, “O Lord, I have sinned, been wicked and done evil; I have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.” And we would also pray to the Lord, “I’m sorry Lord, from now on, I will do my best to not judge or condemn others. For I love you and never desire to offend you.”