P. Jerzy Zielinski, O.Carm.
It is not without reason that we are advised to read the gospel in the morning and not in the evening. The reading of the gospel should not lull us to sleep but should tear apart like dynamite the walls of our earthly egoism.
It is useful for each of us to remind ourselves how inclined we are to judge ourselves differently than we do others. Such behavior displeases God and is dangerous for our salvation. We cannot use one measure of love for ourselves and another for our neighbors. To love your neighbor as yourself is the greatest commandment after the obligation of love for God. It is as if a tree has two parts, one rooted in the soil, the other part growing above ground. If we destroy the roots, the crown will perish; if we cut off the tree's crown, the roots will die. If I do not wish to give my neighbor the love that I demand for myself, I am like a blind man who destroys the crown of the tree and thus also destroys its roots, that is, myself.
We loudly express a desire for human understanding, we call for friendship between nations, yet we ourselves do not know how to live in unity with individual people. We repeatedly demand that more attention be paid to the morality of youth, yet our inner life contradicts what we require of others.
We criticize others for the slightest lack of attention on their part, yet with our unkind judging we exceed a much greater commandment - God's commandment, but that is indifferent to us.
We are bothered by the splinter in others, but we carry a beam in our own eye. We refer to the gospel when we want to point out another's wrongdoing, yet we are afraid to look into it when it should remind us of our own faults.
Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth, who worked with wood for many years, knew exactly the difference between a splinter and a beam. If He used this analogy to illustrate the monstrosity of our expressions about others, it is high time we realized how unjust the judgment is with which we assess our neighbors.
In order for someone to become a judge, they must first study regulations and law to know what is wrong and what is right in human behavior. They must pass an exam, undergo specialization, and practice. But that is not enough. A responsible higher authority must appoint them to a position.
Let us imagine a person who has not studied, has no degree or qualification, placing a sign on their house: "State," "District," or "City Court." Everyone would laugh at them.
But if we have the courage, we can laugh at ourselves. After all, we have so often claimed the right to judge and condemn, even in spiritual matters, which only God knows and can settle. He has reserved that right for Himself with the categorical statement: "Do not judge!"
In order to condemn anyone, one would first have to examine their offense, hear witnesses, compare their testimonies, and listen to the accused.
And we have the courage to judge without witnesses, without hearing our neighbor's viewpoint. We extraordinarily easily render unjust judgments right and left, brandishing information from the second hand and consider ourselves the authorities designated to assess in whose eye the splinter is visible.
Our words are like fruit that grows and ripens in our hearts. Jesus commands us to examine what we articulate, for then we realize what is hidden in our hearts, what it is like. If we are to speak, let every word be good and useful. Those who speak as briefly as if they were writing a telegram, who think about each word and contemplate whether they should speak or rather remain silent, and if it is indeed necessary to speak about something, then how.
Both Jewish and Christian traditions remind us that when God judges us, He will measure us with the same measure that each of us has used in judging others throughout our lives.
It is therefore necessary to remember Christ's call to pay attention to every word we utter and to keep in mind the manner of judgment and the measure of love in relation to others.
From the Polish magazine W cieniu Karmelu No. 2/95 May–June 1995
Translated by R. Kouřimová
