Scripture:  Matthew 7:1-5

1 "Do not say what is wrong in other people's lives. Then other people will not say what is wrong in your life. 2 You will be guilty of the same things you find in others. When you say what is wrong in others, your words will be used to say what is wrong in you. 3 Why do you look at the small piece of wood in your brother's eye, and do not see the big piece of wood in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take that small piece of wood out of your eye,' when there is a big piece of wood in your own eye? 5 You who pretend to be someone you are not, first take the big piece of wood out of your own eye. Then you can see better to take the small piece of wood out of your brother's eye.

Meditation: Everybody is a critic, but nobody wants to be judged or condemned. Then why is judgementalism so rampant, even among Christians? "Thinking the best of other people" is necessary if we wish to grow in love. And kindliness in judgment is nothing less that a sacred duty. The Rabbis warned people: "He who judges his neighbor favorably will be judged favorably by God." How easy it is to misjudge and how difficult it is to be impartial in judgment. Our judgment of others is usually “off the mark” because we can’t see inside the person, or we don’t have access to all the facts, or we are swayed by instinct and unreasoning reactions to people. It is easier to find fault in others than in oneself.

Jesus states a heavenly principle we can stake our lives on: what you give to others (and how you treat others) will return to you. The Lord knows our faults and he sees all, even the imperfections and sins of the heart which we cannot recognize in ourselves. Like a gentle father and a skillful doctor he patiently draws us to his seat of mercy and removes the cancer of sin which inhabits our hearts. Do you trust in God’s mercy and grace? Ask the Lord to flood your heart with his loving-kindness and mercy that you may only have room for charity and forbearance towards your neighbor.

Prayer: "O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for thy name’s sake.  (Prayer of William Barclay, 20th century)

Psalm 60:3-12

3 You have made Your people suffer hard things. You have given us wine to drink that makes us not able to walk straight.
 4 You have given a flag to those who fear You, so it may be seen because of the truth.
 5 Save us with Your right hand, and answer us, so Your loved ones may be set free.

 6 God has said in His holy place: "I will be full of joy. I will divide Shechem and the valley of Succoth.
 7 Gilead is Mine. And Manasseh is Mine. Ephraim is the covering for My head. Judah is My Law giver.
 8 Moab is where I wash My hands. I will throw My shoe over Edom. Call out, Philistia, because of me."

 9 Who will bring me into the strong city? Who will lead me into Edom?
 10 Have You not turned away from us, O God? And will You not go out with our armies, O God?
 11 O give us help against those who hate us. For the help of man is worth nothing.

 12 With God's help we will do well. And He will break under His feet those who fight against us.