But we are not the judge. God is the judge. It will be the
Lord who will separate the sheep from the goats at the last judgment. As
Jeremiah puts it, More tortuous than all
else is the human heart, beyond remedy, who can understand it. I the Lord alone
probe the mind and test the heart, to render to each according to the merits of
his deeds[2].
Furthermore, we do not have all of the data to make a true
judgment. We judge by appearances. We cannot know the heart and the conscience.
Therefore, every human judgment by that very fact is superficial and false.
Sometime we look down on others who if they had been given the opportunities
and graces we have been given would have been far superior to us. And if we had
been subjected to their situation we would be worse than they.
Finally, as we judge so shall we be judged. What we need is
mercy, and forgiveness not judgment. We judge actions we do not judge persons.
We respect and honor each person. They are made in the image of God. They have
this intrinsic core goodness that nothing can destroy. And Jesus identifies
Himself with this person. Whatever we do to them He takes as done to Himself.
And we have sympathy and compassion for them for they share with us the
dependence, infirmities and “transcendental neediness” of the human condition.
And we realize that there but for the grace of God go I.
Our Lord expresses this lesson very clearly in His Sermon on
the Mount. Stop judging, that you may not
be judged[3].
This morning let us call for the Lord’s compassion on all
who so desperately seek to be forgiven, including ourselves: Lord, give us all the courage, Lord, to come
before you in humility, and to leave not just with forgiveness, but with the
determination to sin no more ■
