By Fr. Adolf Washington –
Our judgments over people can often devastate their lives when based on the opinions of others. People are driven to frustration and even suicide because of false allegations and ill-informed judgments against them.
Whatever you do or say, how you behave, how you act or the decisions you make, you will always be scrutinized and judged by others. People will always find something or someone to talk about especially when it satisfies their own selfish ends or their own perception and discretion.
We build lives only when we base our judgments on facts by delving deep into the lives of people to know their real story. Marcus Aurelius Emperor of Rome (161-180AD) put it very powerfully “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth”.
A by-stander at a busy railway station saw a man sitting on a bench totally unmindful while his three children were running about mischievously amidst the busy crowds. “What a careless father this man must be” the by-stander thought.
Plucking courage, he walked up to the man angrily saying “I’ve been watching you sit so irresponsibly. Your children would be lost or would even fall over the railway tracks, why can’t to get them around you?”
Tears welled up in the man’s eyes as he said “Look. We are just returning from the hospital and my kids don’t know their mother died of cancer this morning. I have been painfully putting my thoughts together wondering how I would break this painful news to my children”.
The by-stander, gripping the man by his hand said “I’m deeply sorry. I didn’t know your life story. I judged you wrongly only by what I saw”.
Jesus too was victim of false opinion, criticism and misjudgment that finally got him nailed to a criminal’s cross. He was accused by religious leaders who said “It is by Beelzebul , the prince of the demons he drives out demons”(Luke: 22:15). They accused him of violating the Sabbath by healing on the Sabbath (Mathew 12). The High Priests (people in authority) told the Roman Court at Jesus’ Trial “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding us to pay the tribute tax to Caesar and claiming himself a king” (Luke 23:2).
Do your judgments build or destroy people’s lives?