Judging fairly

IN one of the Lenten weekday readings, we have been

reminded that we have to judge fairly. From the Book of Leviticus, we

read: “You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment. Show

neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty, but judge

your fellow men justly.” (19,15)

  

            It again just shows us that we actually are made to judge,

but to judge fairly. Judging is an unavoidable and indispensable

operation of our intellect that is meant to know people and things in

general.

  

            So, we just have to learn to judge fairly, because that

Christian injunction not to judge people refers more to when we judge

people rashly or unfairly. It does not mean that we should not judge

at all, because that would be impossible and directly goes against our

God-given nature.

  

            To judge people fairly, we need to see to it that charity

always prevails. And this can begin by always thinking well of

everyone. The reason for this is simply the fact that we are all

children of God. We are all object of his divine love that goes all

the way to saving us from our sin by God becoming man and that

God-man, Jesus Christ, accomplishing our redemption by bearing all our

sins on the cross.

  

            This attitude of thinking well of others, including those

who we do not know and even those who commit mistakes, who offend us,

who consider themselves in human terms as our enemies…this attitude of

thinking well of them should serve as the constant default page in our

life. However the situation and our relations with others are, we

should just think well of them.

  

            This will require some effort, of course. In fact, a whole

gamut of virtues is needed. We have to learn how to be patient, how to

handle our emotions especially when we are contradicted, rejected or

offended, how to disagree with others while keeping charity always

alive, etc.

            In this, we have to see to it that we don’t lose our grip

on the eternal truths about ourselves so we don’t get lost in the

unavoidable drama in life, and fall at the mercy of our passions and

human and worldly forces.

  

            That’s why we need to pray always, to be in touch with God

always, asking for his grace and continually developing the virtues.

We have to learn how to settle differences and correct mistakes and

injustices always in the context of charity. Charity will always

include justice. Without charity, justice cannot be lived.

  

            To be sure, it’s when we abidingly think well of the

others, irrespective of the situation, that we can manage to see

things more objectively and judge, decide and act more fairly.

  

            Yes, we will experience suffering. This should not be

surprising, given the condition that we all are in. But if suffered

with and in Christ, that suffering will always do us good, maturing

and purifying us, leading us to a deeper understanding of things and

to better cope with the many mysteries of life.