One thing we are guilty of is judging people. Some common examples:

• When someone is nicely dressed, we judge the person as one who is rich
• We hear someone speak English, we judge that he is a snob
• We see someone who does not know how to use a fork, spoon, and knife, we judge that this person does not come from a good family

We judge people based on their looks, their place of residence, their family name, how they speak, the school they come from, and the list can go on and on and on.

In the Gospel, even Jesus was not exempted from being judged. They said, “Where did this man get all this?”, “What kind of wisdom has been given him?”, “What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!”, “Don’t we know his family?”And they took offense to him.

Three things when we are judged:

• While you know yourself best, check if there is a grain of truth with the things people judge you with. Remember there are facets of our lives that people see and that we are not conscious about.
• You will never please people. People will say what they want to say. Besides they do not really know the whole story. As the saying goes, “Before you judge others be sure to walk a mile in his shoes.” Hence, never get fully affected when people have judged you.
• We remember the words of Christ, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do.” Many times, what gives people security about themselves will be the basis of how they judge others. As the saying goes, “When you judge others, you are simply defining yourself.”

In the end, it is only God who can judge us. The basis for judgment, whatever we do to the least of our brothers and sisters, we do to him.