Stop being Judgy or Do Not Judge
"I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me. - John 5:30"
In today’s Gospel, the theme of standing in judgment is very clearly the focus. It was also the focus of Pope Leo XIV’s challenge to us for Lent: “I would like to invite you to a very practical and often unappreciated form of abstinence: refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbor. Let us begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgment, refraining from slander and speaking ill of those who are not present and cannot defend themselves. Instead, let us strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among our friends, at work, on social media, in political debates, in the media, and in Christian communities. In this way, words of hatred will give way to words of hope and peace.”
I took the challenge and thought it would be pretty easy, because I’m not “Judgy.” It seems that my assumption was wrong. In just a few days into the Lenten season, I found myself engaging in judgment of my neighbor. One of the people listening to the conversation jumped in to say that we should give the offender some grace, and in that moment, I realized this was a sin I wasn’t even aware of. In taking it to prayer in the Adoration chapel, I reflected on why I stood in judgment of someone; was it just? It came to me that if I derived some pleasure in speaking ill of someone who I felt had hurt me, then my judgment was justified! Before I open my mouth again to talk about someone, my test will be whether it makes me feel good about myself, my religiosity, or my lifestyle to talk about their shortcomings, if so. My next stop will be at the confessional line.
As my sister in Christ reminded me, let me remind you to give people grace rather than stand in judgment of your neighbor.
Sherry Hayes-Peirce