To see deeply

And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretence make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” (Mark 12: 38-44)

Human beings can often evaluate the world only superficially. God, instead, as with the poor widow's alms, knowns the deepest secrets and, therefore, is a much better judge that we are. We must, therefore, refrain from rash personal judgments, since often we are only able to evaluate external signs of people’s behaviour, and not the deep reasons behind them. Therefore, true Christians must not be quick to label others without appealing to their more profound motivations. Let us not make reckless personal judgments because it is an obstacle to our salvation. Our superficial judgements may also inhibit our neighbours’ salvation, since they can be mortified by and, therefore, discouraged in their conversion.