Here comes the Judge

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

          I wanted to offer a secular example of what this passage means because it's seems to be an everlasting bone of contention at my workplace so I am sure it is elsewhere as well.. It involves the use of sick time. Please indulge me. There are really 4 broad categories of sick time use I have seen these last 30+ years.  One is people who are genuinely sick. They may have cancer or other illness or perhaps a spouse or family member is sick and there is a genuine need to attend to the present situation. Two would be people who call in at a cough or a sneeze. Perhaps this is justified, after all you don't want someone spreading illness throughout a health facility. Still, the use tends to outstrip reason. Invariably an acute cough develops on sunny days when the golf course has an opening. Third are those who tend not to abuse sick time  but they might be easily swayed into category two because they see the abuse especially today with Face Book betraying some of these bright lights. The fourth category are those that call in sick rarely, use sick time when it is needed and only then. These people are not swayed by other peoples' abuse because they know in their heart what is right and what is wrong. They will leave other people to live their own lives and wont judge. 

             So where does this leave us with this Scripture passage? The biggest lesson we all have to learn is to be happy with ourselves. We have to live with ourselves. If we can realize that no one can judge us except God, then we can be truly happy if we know in our heart we are doing the right thing.

             There is a whole array of people, political groups, religions and clergy of varying denominations that seem fit to judge everything that everyone else does. Some get picked on more, some less, some overlooked but judgments are around in abundance. It seems to me that if people would spend more time being concerned with the plank in their own eye the world would be a much better place. This concept is quite consistent with what Jesus preached and lived.

              It astounds me that there are people so concerned with what gay people do or don't do in their bedrooms. Being gay is a litmus test in many mainline Christian religions. Adultery, divorce and 'deviant' sexual practices are rarely mentioned for heterosexuals if at all and if it is, certainly not with the fever pitch as with the gay community.  It reminds me of the Dallas morning show co-host that was disgusted with ESPN showing the Michael Sam kiss, so much so that she was compelled to walk off the show when challenged about her reaction. The same person seems perfectly at ease and apparently thinks it acceptable to veiw and take part in male stripper show. Again, be confident in how you yourself act and how you live and be less concerned and non-judgemental of how others live their lives.

             The bottom line has always been the same. If you have love you are golden. Those two great commandments and the ten that preceded them are all we really need. 

            Worry about yourself in earnest and be brutally honest with your self assessment and all will be right with the world. All we need do the is love one another freely.s

‘Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.