THE TWELVE CLIPS OF CHRISTMAS: DAY 5: JUDGE FOR A DAY

“Who am I to judge?” Those were the famously misunderstood words spoken by Pope Francis which contributed to his being nominated Time magazine’s person of the year for 2013. Regardless of what some hoped to make of it, though, the Pope’s statement didn’t really approve of homosexual activity, it just reiterated the Church’s teaching that homosexual’s "must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity" and that "every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided." We don’t get to judge other’s souls. Actions, though, that’s a different story. And really, don’t we all occasionally dream about being able to sit in judgment of others when they act in a manner we don’t approve of…

The problem is, there’s that whole pesky “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” clause in the Our Father that kind of puts a damper on our wholesale condemnation of others. We need to be pretty sure before we go casting stones at individuals, lest we risk a little judgment ourselves.

It’s like Jesus said in the verses from Matthew which showed up in today’s study of the Gospels in a Year, "Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.”

Yeah, that’s Jesus, the supposed feel-good hippy, saying that he’s going to pass judgment on people (including us if we’re not careful) and allow them to go to the hell they chose. He gets the final word. Who are we to judge? Humans who can make mistakes. Who is he to judge? Well, come on, it’s Christmas, haven’t you been paying attention?