In our first reading from Isaiah, and in today’s Gospel from Saint Mark, we hear of amazing healings that have come about through God’s power. We hear of sight being restored, the deaf able to hear, and the mute speak, even the other necessities of life like water flowing forth, all due to God’s power at work. We can easily relate to all of these, because they are focused on the physical realities that are easily interpreted and related to through our own experiences in the tangible day to day existence. Yet, as we know, there is far more to us than just using these kinds of senses, or the other needs our physical selves have. We are also beings of spirit, and our Lord knows this well, Jesus himself addressed both of these aspects of our being. He used physical healing to help those he encountered, but also to help others who witnessed them to open themselves to belief in Him as God, and to greater possibilities that exist in life eternal than anything we can imagine when we focus only on this plane of existence.
In our second reading we hear of another infirmity that can affect us at times, though this is not a physical infirmity, but one of the spirit. We have a tendency at times to categorize those around us, and those we encounter, and to define them very often only through appearance without really looking at the whole person, in particular the spirit. This is understandable, as we don’t have much insight into another’s spirit without getting to know them more and using this knowledge to help us better understand that aspect of their nature. Yet we must be careful when do only a cursory evaluation of others, that we do not fall into the trap of letting our initial cursory observations translate into a judgement we make about that person, and in particular how we will then treat them. To do so means we have fallen into the trap of judging others and treating them sometimes with less dignity and consideration than what they are each due as a child of God, and so created in His image.
When we fall into the trap of this kind of judgement, we need to be healed as surely as when we encounter an infirmity that is more physical in nature. Our Lord has cautioned us specifically against this behavior, and the sins that it leads to. This is something we need to be continually asking for help with, and for forgiveness and healing for those times when we still stumble. We must be vigilant to the best of our ability, but ultimately we must ask for God’s healing, grace, and forgiveness to allow us to become more self aware in our interactions with others. This is not something we can handle on our own, any more than the other sins we struggle with as part of our fallen human condition.
When our Lord was asked what the greatest of the commandments was, He answered with two. The first being to love God, and the second being to love others. This is actually really one commandment though in essence, because we simply cannot love God without loving those created by Him and in His image. It stands to reason then, that when we inadvertently, or worse deliberately judge others we are doing then doing so to God. Who are we to do such a thing? It is only the reverse that is proper. It is only the place of Him who can read mind, heart, and spirit, and who knows all, to be a fitting judge. We in turn, should be looking always with eyes of humility and love toward those around us.
Of all the quotes and misquotes that have been attributed to Pope Francis, the one that should stand out to all of us, and should become our most cherished piece of guidance, is when he said simply – “Who am I to judge?”
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The Deacons Bench 