Right to Judge?

19Aug
The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
- John 5: 22-23 


As I have heard this passage different times since childhood, I have come to believe that in God’s great wisdom, God decided that in order to judge someone fairly, you must know something of their experience. Jesus, being fully human, was in a much better position to know what lies at the base of our actions as fallible humans. 

The summer Olympics begin as I write this piece, and Simone Biles will participate. I am reminded of the Tokyo Olympics four years ago when she withdrew, because she experienced the “twisties”. The twisties is a cute name for a gymnast’s potentially life-threatening experience of losing her place in the air—literally not knowing up from down or right from left. I also recall vividly the comments made, particularly by sports casters, most of whom probably could not do a forward somersault on the floor (alas my own judgment creeps in loud and clear!). Biles was described as “selfish”, “immature”, “unamerican”, “a quitter”, “a coward”, “a betrayer of her team” and “a shame to her country”. All of these comments were made by people who had never done anything remotely like flying into the air 12 feet, while spinning and flipping. Yet judge they did and ruthlessly. 


What is it about humans that allows us to give ourselves permission to say cruel things about people whom we have never met? To judge people doing things about which we know absolutely nothing? To judge those who have had access to less money in a lifetime than we have had in a year? To judge those whose childhood experiences could not be farther from our own? To judge when we have not ever put on the other’s shoes, much less walked a mile in them? As I write this meditation, I am asking myself these questions, and I am not proud of the answers. Some answers I don’t have. I find myself grateful that God chose to give Jesus the job of judging—at least he was human! I invite you to reflect on your judgment. 


Musical Reflection - Walk a Mile in My Shoes - Joe South


Loving God, Thank you for your unfailing mercy and forgiveness. Thank you for loving me through my faults and illusions. Please help me to be mindful of my judgments, to be kinder and to treat others with the compassion I receive from you. Amen.

Judgement

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