“Avoid judging others, and you will not be judged.  Avoid condemning, and you yourself will not be condemned.  Forgive fully, and you will be fully Forgiven.  Give freely, and Life will be freely Given to you.” ~ Jesus (Luke 6:37-38)

 

Many make the mistake of believing this passage speaks to an external dynamic – that there is some sort of Celestial Arbitrator “above” who will not judge us or condemn us if we happen to refuse to judge or condemn others; who will indeed forgive us our trespasses if we forgive others theirs; who will reward us with a more full & vibrant life if we choose to fill our current one with acts of generosity.  To believe this might not be incorrect, and yet to believe this is without a doubt to sell far short the majesty innate to Life & God & Self …

For the far deeper Truth in this passage is the one that reminds us that we will not judge ourselves or condemn ourselves if we refuse to do the same to others (after all, we cannot Love another while judging or condemning him or her, and we are first & foremost here to Love); that we will forgive ourselves our own trespasses and past sins to the same extent & degree that we are willing to forgive others theirs; and that we will finally (and indeed only) come to live a truly full Life while we are ourselves choosing to fill that Life with the gift of a Giving that is wholly unconditional and completely selfless.

 

Filed under: My Favorite Verses by Scaughdt