Gospel Reflection for The 23rd day of June in the year of Our Lord, 2025
Matthew 7:1-5
1 Judge not, that you may not be judged, 2 For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why seest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye; and seest not the beam that is in thy own eye? 4 Or how sayest thou to thy brother: Let me cast the mote out of thy eye; and behold a beam is in thy own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam in thy own eye, and then shalt thou see to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Today's Gospel is often quoted by people who claim that Christians are too “judgmental” because we follow traditional Christian morality. When we say that divorce, homosexuality, abortion, etc. is wrong, they yell, “Jesus said not to judge!” Once again, the Bible should really be read in context. Jesus also repeatedly condemned sin and said that all would be judged by their actions.
Even well-meaning people will say that by being “non-judgmental” we can be more welcoming and bring more people into the Church. But, to what end? Certainly, we must welcome all people into the Church, even and especially the worst sinners. That does not mean that we are to approve sin or remain silent about it. The very point of a person becoming Christian is to be absolved of their sins and taught to sin no more. If we cannot condemn sin, the person in church has no more hope of salvation than one who rejects Christianity and never enters a church.
It is a Christian duty to learn about, and instruct others on matters of morals and doctrine. If you saw a blind man walking toward a cliff or another danger, it would be your Christian duty to call out and warn him. If you see your fellow man falling into sin that puts him in risk of eternal damnation, the duty to warn and instruct is even greater. Today's Gospel warns us against hypocrisy – ignoring our own sins while condemning another. To admonish is not to condemn. We should always be far tougher on ourselves than others – we also have a Christian duty of charity which includes thinking the best of others. But, even if it offends someone to tell them that their actions are sinful, we must do it. We will be held accountable if we fail in our Christian duty. To love another as God loves us is not to allow them to go to hell for fear of offending them; to love them is to warn, admonish, instruct and be compassionate just as Jesus was in His earthly ministry.
Judson Carroll is the author of several books, including his newest, A Daily Catholic Devotional, Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings July-December, 2025 It is Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5BHFZ7X
and
Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith. It is also Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK
His podcast is The Uncensored Catholic https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-uncensored-catholic