Judgement..

We are all guilty of judging people, intentionally or subconsciously. Sometimes we act on our judgements, sometimes we change our behaviour towards people who do not fit into a mould we are comfortable with.

We ourselves are judged, on our appearance, our beliefs, our ethnicity, our social abilities, our wealth or lack of wealth. Being judged isn't nice, and being attacked is even worse. As Catholics we are an easy target, there are many people who disagree with the church and its teachings, people who do not like the fundamental beliefs or our religion and take pleasure is undermining it whenever possible. We have to try not to be intimidated by this, I always try to show my faith to those around, with rosary beads, religious bracelets, pin badges or abstaining from meat on Fridays. We can't repress our own beliefs for the opinion of the few, I get into many discussions started by people noticing my badges or asking why I'm not eating meat. These discussions help my own faith to grow and sometimes give the inquisitor something to think about.

One thing we should try not to do however is automatically assume all atheists are bad people. This goes totally against what Christ teaches. We are all Gods children and we should not form our opinions based on another's beliefs just as we hate being judged for our own. I try to treat everyone equally regardless of their faith, gender or nationality. I'm not always successful but I would not be a true Christian if I wasn't giving everyone to same respect.

I tried an exercise recently that helped me to curb my own judgmental side, I went out of my way to have a conversation with someone who had previously annoyed me with an anti-religious sentiment. I did not do this to start a debate, I did not do this to try and alter this persons views, I did it to prove to myself I can still have a genuine friendship with someone even though our fundamental beliefs are different.

Another example is Richard Dawkins. He is an anti-religious, critical and condeming person. But he is also intelligent, witty and probably a really nice man. He isn't evil, he isn't a vicious dictator, he is simply an academic with an opinion that he shares with others. We can debate with people and have differing opinions but we should not criticise others based purely on their beliefs. Not all my friends are Catholic but I do not favour those that are over others. I would hope my friends know I respect them all on individual merit, sometimes some of them will disagree with that but I will always try my best to be fair.

Judgement should be left to God Almighty, we should not try to inflict our own human karma or wish anybody harm based on their opinions. God made all of us and God does not make mistakes. He knows us all inside out and is especially fond of each and every one of us. We should always concentrate on what we can change.. ourselves:

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?"

Matthew 7:1-4

May God bless you all and send his spirit upon you

YCM

Passion Poem...

 

Passion

On the floor beneath the heavens, our Saviour cries in pain,

Calling to His father, calling out his name,

Tempted by the devil who slithered out of a hole,

Agony in His body, agony in His soul.

‘Father please save me, take my pain I pray,

Father please have mercy, take this cup away.

We can bring these souls to heaven in another way,

I’ll spread your name worldwide, starting from today.’

The sky was dark around Him, the trees themselves were still

‘Then let it be done Father, according to your will.’

With the fear within Him, God’s child began to cry,

To save the souls of the living, Jesus Christ must die.

The guards would come to get him, the traitor would succeed,

For 30 pieces of silver, Judas has done his deed.

His disciples were close at hand, but his disciples were asleep.

He said ‘Your spirit is willing, but your flesh is weak.’

The elders of the Jews, took Him to be tried,

His followers were useless, Peter thrice denied.

Pilate put it to the people, who shall we crucify?

The crowd chanted Jesus, Jesus Christ must die!

Disfigured from His beating, blood matted in His hair,

Barely able to stand, He was given His cross to bear.

Falling every step, whipped to keep His pace,

Kind Veronica came to Him, wiping blood from His face.

Watching her son suffer, with the rest stood His mother,

He couldn’t go on any further, He needed the help of another.

Who would dare help Him, the guards they had to choose,

It was reluctant Simon of Cyrene, who supported the King of the Jews.

They reached the place of death, where thousands before had died,

The path before Him had ended, he was to be crucified.

Stretching out his hands, the nails they went straight through,

Jesus said, ‘Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do’.

Suffering on the cross, dying with common thieves,

On the floor below Him, His mother Mary grieved.

Giving up His spirit, bowing His blood stained head,

Darkness fell across the land, Jesus Christ was dead.

His disciple and mother waited, contemplating words spoken,

Now watched His side being pierced, while criminals legs were broken.

The child that God himself created, conceived within her womb,

Now taken down, wrapped in cloth, and rested in a tomb.

His disciples now scared of the Jews, the Romans they also feared

Afraid of persecution, His disciples disappeared.

All who were frightened, retreated to the upper room,

It was the women who discovered, Jesus had risen from the tomb.

Jesus appeared to all of them, to put any doubts to rest,

Filling those who heard his words, with love and happiness.

Persecuted here on earth, now sitting on His throne,

The stone that the builders rejected, became the corner stone.

Let’s use Christ as our example of how perfect we can be,

God sent His only son, He came to set us free.

All of mankind’s sins, he promises to forgive.

Our Saviour died on the cross, so the rest of us can live!

YCM