Qua bài Tin Mừng hôm nay,
Chúa Giêsu đã dậy chúng ta không nên phán xét bất cứ ai và chúng ta cũng chẳng
có quyền xét đoán ai cả (ngoài chúa Giêsu là đấng thẩm phán nhân từ) bởi chúng
ta không thể hiểu những gì đã và đang xảy ra cho người khác và chúng ta chẳng
hiểu nổi những đau khổ riêng của họ. Hơn nữa chúng ta không có đủ những sự kiện
bằng cớ để lên án người khác.
Chúa Giêsu đã nói một trong những lý do mà chúng ta thường
làm hằng ngày là lên án người khác vì muốn tìm cách để dìm họ xuống và đưa mình
lên cao hơn hơn ai hết. Trong khi chúng ta đang săm soi tập trung vào những thiếu
sót nhỏ nhặt của người khác, mà chúng ta không nhìn ra cái sai, cái xấu của
mình vì chúng ta đang bận rộn và tìm cách để che đậy những cái khuyết điểm
nghiêm trọng của chính chúng ta; trong đó có những tội nói hành, nói xấu, nói
sau lưng người khác đệ uy tín của họ. Mặt
khác, chúng ta thường không thích hay miễn cưỡng để khen thưởng hay khíck lệ
hay đánh giá về một người nào đó một cách khách quan.
Hôm
nay Chúa muốn chúng ta hãy chịu khó nhìn vào chính mình một trung thực hơn và
không nên xét đoán, phê bình những người khác một ách tiêu cực, Bời vì chúng ta
thường nghĩ tốt về mình và nghĩ xấu về người khác, thích khoe khoang về mình
nhiều hơn là những gì chúng ta cần phải nghĩ đến về những người khác nữa.
Lạy
Chúa xin giúp chúng con biết lắng nghe, và đừng bao giờ xét đoán người khác, biết
khiến tốn mà không khoe khoang về chính mình và nghĩ tới sự thật, và biết tôn
trọng những người khác.
Reflection Monday of 12th
Week in Ordinary Time
There must be few of us
to whom today’s Gospel does not apply. How many of us can say that we never sit
in judgment on others, that we never speak disparagingly of others? Gossiping
is one of our favorite pastimes and it is done mostly in the absence of those
we criticize. We don’t have the courage to say things to a person's face. As
Jesus says, we have no right to pass judgment on anyone because, so much of the
time, we simply do not have all the facts nor can we enter into the mind of
another person. And, as Jesus says, one of the reasons we knock people down is
to lift ourselves up. While we are nitpicking focusing on the trivial failings
of others, we are actually trying to cover up our own much more serious
shortcomings — of which behind-the-back bitching of others is one. On the other
hand, we are often very slow to offer an objective appraisal of another person
when asked.
Let
us take an honest look at ourselves and reflect on the content of our
conversations with others. It usually says a lot more about ourselves than what
we think we are saying about others.
Monday of the Twelfth
Week in Ordinary Time 2026
“Why do you notice the
splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own
eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your
eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden
beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from
your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:3–5
It
is easy to judge another. A certain satisfaction comes from it; otherwise, one
would not engage in such an action. In fact, every sin we commit brings with it
a certain degree of satisfaction. Of course, the satisfaction is purely
emotional, passing, disordered, and ultimately very destructive to our souls.
A judgmental heart
presumes the worst about another’s words or actions. The Catechism of the
Catholic Church warns against rash judgment as an offense against truth (CCC 2477).
We commit this sin when we assume, without sufficient evidence, the moral fault
of another. This often manifests as gossip, detraction, or slander. While
gossip may sometimes involve truth, it becomes sinful when it harms another’s
reputation without a just cause. Detraction needlessly exposes another’s real
faults, while slander distorts the truth and spreads falsehood. Each of these
acts flows from a heart that finds disordered satisfaction in condemning rather
than in mercy.
Every
time we judge another unfairly—whether through interior criticism or public
condemnation—we fall into this sin. To remedy this, we must examine our
motivations. Sin is deceptive, especially to the one who commits it. The sin of
judging another is particularly insidious because it often feels justified,
even appearing as a moral obligation.
This
was the sin of the scribes and Pharisees. They judged others, interpreting the
Law of Moses through their rigid traditions rather than true righteousness.
Their self-righteousness convinced them they were acting in God’s name. But
they were blinded by pride, which not only harmed others but also endangered
their souls.
A judgmental heart is
difficult to overcome. Doing so requires shedding disordered feelings and hurts
and turning to the light of God’s Wisdom. This will hurt because we must admit
our sin. When another’s words or actions offend us, it is even harder to face
our own sin first. Jesus makes it clear, however, that unless we first remove
the “wooden beam” in our own eye, we cannot remove the “splinter” in another’s.
The
only way to remove the wooden beam in our own eye is to grow in the virtue of
mercy. We must love every sinner—especially those who have harmed us—to such a
degree that every passion of our soul is transformed by mercy. With our minds,
we must perceive and embrace God’s truth about mercy, and with our wills, we
must choose it. Only when we do so over and over again—forming a habit, or
virtue—will our passions align with mercy.
The
good news—for us and for those we tend to judge—is that when the virtue of
mercy permeates not only our minds and wills but also our feelings and
passions, we begin to discover freedom from the disordered satisfaction that
trapped us in our judgmental hearts. From there, enlightened by God’s wisdom
and grace, we will be able to lovingly, compassionately, and sincerely help
others see the error of their ways—not by judging and condemning them, but by
loving them and guiding them toward the same freedom in Christ.
Reflect
today on any sinful habits you struggle with, especially a judgmental heart. Do
you ever feel justified in your judgment of others? Is there a degree of
disordered satisfaction you gain from that sin? Humble yourself before God’s
mercy if these questions challenge you, and don’t be afraid to acknowledge the
wooden beam in your eye. Beg for freedom from a judgmental spirit and embrace
the far greater gift of mercy. Though challenging, such an exercise is
ultimately freeing and will enable you to assist those who need God’s mercy the
most.
Most
merciful God, I come before You and humbly acknowledge my struggle with a
judgmental heart. When I am hurt or offended, I am tempted to lash out,
condemn, and presume the worst of others. But You, O Lord, see all things with
perfect wisdom and mercy. Please free me from this sin, purify my heart, and
transform me into an instrument of Your love and compassion. May I judge no one
apart from Your Truth and Justice, and may I always extend the mercy that I
myself long to receive. Jesus, I trust in You.
Reflection Monday of 12th
Week in Ordinary Tim 2026
Opening Prayer: Lord
God, help me to see myself with true humility. Help me to see my strengths and
weaknesses. Help me to know how I have collaborated with your grace and when I
have rejected your help.
Encountering the Word of
God
1. Stop Judging: The
Gospel continues our reading of the Sermon on the Mount. We are reading from
the third part of the Sermon, which centers on “deeds of kindness” and our
“social obligations” in the New Covenant (Matthew 6:19-7:12). There are two
main teachings. We read the first teaching last week on Friday and Saturday,
and that teaching was about our relationship to the goods of this world
(Matthew 6:19-34). The second is found in today’s Gospel and concerns our
relationship to other people. Just as we are not to dedicate our lives
primarily to storing up earthly treasure, we are not to spend our lives judging
others. We need to store up heavenly treasure with God and leave the judgment
of the human heart to God the Father.
2. The Generous and
Attentive Eye: Both teachings are fleshed out with
parables about the eye. The good eye correctly views the riches of this world
and is a generous eye (Matthew 6:22). The bad eye or evil eye is one that looks
at other people’s possessions with envy and covetousness and is miserly with
one’s own possessions. The good eye, we learn today, is also an eye that can
see clearly. It is not blocked by a wooden beam – an image of a massive fault –
and is attentive enough to guide the gentle removal of a splinter – an image of
a small fault – from our brother’s eye. Both teachings are followed by an
exhortation to entrust ourselves to the care of the heavenly Father. Instead of
being anxious about earthly goods, we are to be primarily concerned with God’s
Kingdom and righteousness, confident that God will provide the food, drink, and
clothing that we need. Instead of wasting our time judging others (Matthew
7:1-5) and focusing on what they do that annoys us, we are to turn to God in
prayer and ask for what we need with the expectation that the Father will
respond. Both teachings invite us to pray with confidence, because our heavenly
Father is generous.
3. Beams and Splinters: One
of the most important lessons from the Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’
admonition, “Stop judging!” How our lives would be different if we truly
practiced this! Jesus is not inviting us to be naïve or to turn a blind eye to
evil. But he ardently wants us to recognize that we are not God and are not
omniscient. We can barely judge our own hearts; how then can we pretend to
rightly and correctly judge the hearts and innermost intentions of our brothers
and sisters? Jesus wants us to look first to ourselves and remove any wooden
beams that prevent us from seeing clearly. Only then are we able to discern the
splinter or eyelash – the symbol of a small fault or imperfection – in our
brother’s eye. You have probably experienced how good it is to receive counsel
from a wise and holy person. Their counsel is truly valuable. They can see
clearly with eyes of faith and spirit-infused wisdom. And with them, we can
discern the path forward, having removed both beams and splinters.
Monday of the Twelfth
Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus said to his
disciples: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will
you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to
you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive
the wooden beam in your own eye?” Matthew 7:1–3
Sadly,
this tendency is far more common than most of us would like to admit. We live
in a world in which it is very common to condemn, criticize and judge. This
growing secular tendency, in turn, powerfully influences our thinking and
actions.
Why
is it so easy to judge others? Why is it so easy to see the failures of others,
dwell on their sin, point out their weaknesses and speak of their faults to
others? Perhaps part of the reason is that many people are not at peace within
their own souls. In an unfortunate way, condemning another brings with it a
certain twisted satisfaction. But it’s a “satisfaction” that will never
satisfy. The desire to condemn, criticize and judge will only grow all the
stronger the more these actions are committed. If you struggle with these sins,
then listen to the words of Jesus. “Stop judging…”
Oftentimes
the person who judges others does not even realize they are judging. This is
why our Lord poses the question, “Why do you notice the splinter in your
brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?” If that
stings even a little bit, then know that our Lord asks that question of you.
And He asks it with deep love for you, desiring that you will hear Him,
understand, and respond.
The truth is that being
judgmental of others causes far more harm to the one who judges than to the one
who is judged. Certainly being judged is not pleasant. But the act of being
judged by others is not a sin. However, the act of judging others is a sin. And
it can be a grave sin. This sin leaves the one who judges with an empty and
angry heart. Love is lost in the soul who judges.
If
these words seem unpleasant, that’s because they are. But sometimes we need to
face the unpleasant truth in order to change. The Cross was unpleasant, but it
was also the greatest act of love ever known. Facing our sin of judgmentalness
is unpleasant, but doing so is the only way to be free. Honesty with ourselves
is an act of love given to God, to ourselves and to those whom we need to stop
judging.
Reflect,
today, upon these challenging words from Jesus. Read the Scripture passage
above a few times and then prayerfully ponder it. Use it as an examination of
your own conscience. Try to be honest, humble and attentive to any ways that
Jesus speaks this to you. Some will find that they have grave tendencies toward
judgmentalness. Others will see less serious ways. But everyone who lacks
complete perfection will find some ways in which they need to be more
compassionate, merciful, forgiving and understanding of others. Be open to
these truths and allow our Lord to lift the heavy burden of this sin from your
own life.
My
merciful Lord, You and You alone are the true Judge. Only You judge with mercy
and justice. Give me the grace I need to abandon my own self-righteous
judgmentalness so that I will be free to love You and to love others with my
whole heart. Free me from the burden of these sins, dear Lord, so that I can
more easily see Your goodness in others and rejoice in Your presence in their
lives. Jesus, I trust in You.
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