The Holy Martyrs Eulampius and Eulampia (305-13).
Philippians 2:16-23; Luke 6:37-45.
Read Luke 6:37-45
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
The command to judge is hard, and sometimes seems to go against common sense. How can I avoid judging those around me when I interact with them every day? The command seems especially counterintuitive when I see others behaving contrary to the gospel, or simply contrary to common sense. Doesn’t my duty as a parent, sibling, employee, or citizen require this kind of judgement?
The answer, of course, is “yes.” So how do I interpret Jesus’ command not to judge? The rest of today’s gospel gives some hints. First, the negative commands not to judge and condemn are followed by two positive commands: to forgive and to give. Sometimes I will need to make a judgment call about a person’s behavior – and indeed, the idea of forgiveness takes seriously the fact that something wrong has happened, that an injury has occurred. Otherwise Jesus wouldn’t have commanded forgiveness, but a willful ignorance of grievances. Forgiveness doesn’t mean ignoring an injury, but looking past it, deciding that it need not define the relationship. So even when I need to make a judgment, the commands to be forgiving and generous require that I never close the door on a possible reconciliation.
The other hint in today’s gospel (at least the one this writer noticed!) is in the parable about the speck and the log. This is a reminder that I may not be nearly as qualified to judge others as I think I am. “Can a blind person guide the blind?” How blind am I to my own failings, to my own sins against others? More blind than I think, Jesus appears to be saying. But if I mirror his generous forgiveness, he promises me a good measure. When I bend my heart to forgiveness, to leaving judgement to God, then slowly my heart will produce good, for me and for others.
Bible References