Tuesday 28th week in ordinary time

"Lk 11:37-41"

A Pharisee asked him to dine with him; so he went in and sat at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of extortion and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you."

How quick that Pharisee was to judge Jesus! How quick some people are to jump to conclusions, just because someone else doesn't seem to live up to their standards. The Pharisee had invited Jesus to dine with him, and was already judging Jesus before the dinner had even started. He thought Jesus was neglecting the tradition of the elders by not washing His Hands, when in fact it was he, the Pharisee, who had failed to live charity by judging and condemning Jesus in his mind.

An old lady who had been mugged was behind the two-way mirror contemplating a few suspects in the police line-up. Police officer: "Madam, can you identify the man who robbed you?" Granny: "Most certainly." Police: "Are you sure?" Granny: "Absolutely. It was the small guy dressed in red." Police: "That's... that's a fire extinguisher, madam." Granny: "Really? Well, now, you make me doubt..." Moments before, the old lady had been most certain that the fire extinguisher should go to prison.

Like the Pharisee and the old lady, many people are absolutely certain of their judgements... and yet, on many occasions they are wrong. Jesus was very clear: "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned" (Lk 6:37). The problem with this sin against charity is that it is an 'internal sin'. No one sees it, but it damages us as does any other sin. And because it's not seen, many people don't fight against it. It's not totally invisible, though, because those who have this critical spirit are like Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol: a miserable grouch who is never happy with anyone or anything.

Mary, Our Lady of Charity, help me to love people and not waste time judging them.