In today’s reading from the first chapter of the Letter to the Romans, Paul writes:
Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, “We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.” Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
How often have we found ourselves passing judgment on someone we may disagree with or consider ourselves to be “better” than? I know that in my life it has been all too often. Sometimes we can find ourselves smugly saying to ourselves, “Thank goodness I’m not like that person!” Or, “He’s poor because he’s just lazy.” Or, “That person is weak, otherwise he would stop drinking.”
Paul reminds us that it is not our place to pass judgment. We do not know the state of our neighbor’s soul; only God does. What’s more, we do not realize the greatness of God’s mercy and goodness. If we did, we would find ourselves saying, “Thank you Jesus for your death and resurrection; thank you for forgiving me for my sins.”
Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, “We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.” Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
How often have we found ourselves passing judgment on someone we may disagree with or consider ourselves to be “better” than? I know that in my life it has been all too often. Sometimes we can find ourselves smugly saying to ourselves, “Thank goodness I’m not like that person!” Or, “He’s poor because he’s just lazy.” Or, “That person is weak, otherwise he would stop drinking.”
Paul reminds us that it is not our place to pass judgment. We do not know the state of our neighbor’s soul; only God does. What’s more, we do not realize the greatness of God’s mercy and goodness. If we did, we would find ourselves saying, “Thank you Jesus for your death and resurrection; thank you for forgiving me for my sins.”
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