Weekly HOMILY for June 8. 2008: Judging Is Bad for at Least Two People

10th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle A
Our Lady of Grace
June 8, 2008

Judging Is Bad for at Least Two People
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato


The Elements of Judging

Thornton Wilder was one of our finest American playwrights.

Wilder won Pulitzer Prizes for his plays, The Bridge of San Luis Rey and Our Town. As a playwright he tends to present human beings as flawed, but lovable.

On a poster advertising one of Wilder’s plays was a quote from him saying that, “To pass judgment on another person is to stand apart from the human condition.”

Wilder goes on to say that, “Passing judgment involves the assumption that the presence of evil in the world is exceptional.” For him, to pass judgment from the outside is – in his own words – “To assert one’s own immunity.”

Just think about these ideas for a moment: Passing judgment on another person is: (1) “To stand apart from the human condition,” as in “You’ve got a problem, an imperfection, or flaw, not me.” (2) “To assume that the presence of evil is exceptional, rather than the common denominator in us all” and (3) “To assert one’s own immunity as in, ‘Who me?’”


Elements of Not Judging

Now, with these three key insights of Thornton Wilder, let us take a look at today’s Gospel.

Jesus is aware of several important facts about Matthew:

➢ He knows that he is a tax collector

➢ He knows that Matthew may be dishonest like some other tax collectors of the day

➢ He knows that Matthew is viewed as a traitor to his Country because he is working for the occupying power, the Roman Army

➢ He knows that Matthew is probably not attending synagogue regularly and that he probably is not an observant Jew

Jesus knows all these facts yet he does not in the least, judge Matthew.

Quite the contrary is true. Instead of judging, Jesus accepts and sees possibilities in Matthew. And then, he even goes to Matthew’s home for dinner and some of Matthew’s friends are there.

The friends at his home are described as “tax collectors and sinners” – although we are not told what sins they have committed.

Again, take note Jesus does not judge, and again he simply accepts them as they are and sees possibilities in them.


The Effects of Judging

The Pharisees, who are the religious leaders of the day, are puzzled by this acceptance of sinful folks and ask Jesus’ disciples: “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

The Pharisees of course are judging Matthew and his friends. They are standing apart from them.

They see evil in them, but not a speck of evil in themselves whom they judge as good and okay. They in effect are asserting their own immunity from evil and sin.

How tragic and misguided! The truth is that sin has touched each of us. No one is excluded.

Now here’s an important insight: To the extent we recognize this truth and to the extent we seek a higher path, to that extent we are truly human and growing. Another insight: When we judge others, we dehumanize them and in the end we end up dehumanizing ourselves.

We make others less than human by labeling and stereotyping and freezing them in a mold. We make ourselves less than human by pretending that we are not part of the human condition.


A Real Issue for Us

This judging is an issue for all persons and certainly for us as persons of faith.

For example, we judge persons who have had an abortion or vote pro-choice. We judge today’s immigrants.

We judge families whose youth have gotten into some sort of trouble. We judge persons who are divorced and in another marriage.

Some in our Catholic Church use what I think is an unnecessary and judgmental label, “Cafeteria Catholics.” They use that to speak of Catholics who do not accept all that the Church teaches.

We could cite other examples, but what is important to remember, however, is that Jesus refrains from this type of judging and stereotyping.

He knew the facts but saw the possibilities in people.

➢ The truth is that sin touches all of us

➢ The truth is that all of us are human and imperfect

➢ The truth is that all of us are “Cafeteria Christians” to some degree because none of us lives the Lord’s way fully

So why bother using terms like “Cafeteria Catholics”? Instead we should strive to follow the Lord and stick to what we believe is right and good without judging others and pretending that they are less and we are better.


Conclusion

Jesus’ example is truly a challenge for each of us.

He gives us a peaceful, sensitive, and non-judgmental way to live and to relate. He gives us possibilities for growing in our relationships with one another and with him.