Thursday Sept. 9, 2004

From Fr. Sylvester Mary Mann, CFR

Dear Friends,

Have you ever been judged? Perhaps it was with words. Maybe it was in the way someone looked at you – or even refused to look at you. But you got the message loud and clear: JUDGED!

No doubt the poor – the men at the St. Padre Pio Shelter, the immigrants who frequent Casa Juan Diego, the residents who live at St. Anthony’s, and so on – are all too familiar with being judged…intensely, negatively judged. Sad as it is, if we are honest with ourselves we must admit that we (each of us) sometimes do the judging. Yet, Jesus says,

Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get (Mt. 7:1-2).

It is interesting to note that St. Luke’s Gospel contains the same passage cited above – with one variation. It begins with the exhortation: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (Lk. 6:38). It is not enough simply not to judge others. We must also be rich in mercy. In other words, Jesus teaches that judgment will be meted back to us in equal measure. Not so with mercy. The Father’s copious and overflowing love is the measure of mercy.

To be merciful, just as your Father is merciful, means that we must be constantly converted to love. God’s grace not only frees us from being judgmental; it frees us to love.

So, the next time you feel judged, stop! Grab hold of your Crucifix. Look at Jesus lovingly looking at you. Hear Him speak the word loud and clear: LOVED!

Fr. Sylvester Mary Mann, CFR
Director, St. Anthony Residence (stationed at St. Crispin Friary, Bronx)
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