2020 Lenten Devotional - March 28 | Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Gospel Reading:  Jer 11:18-20; Ps 7; John 7:40-53

“Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” While the other Pharisees bicker over the law and Jesus’ teaching, Nicodemus reminds his peers that the law calls them to judge justly. It is difficult for the Sanhedrin to even contemplate listening to the words of Jesus the Galilean, especially considering the threat Jesus’ teaching poses to their own authority. Earlier in the Gospel of John, Jesus implores his followers to “Stop judging by appearances, but judge justly.” Unfortunately, Jesus himself did not always face a fair trial. In order to promote justice in our world, it is important to judge justly as Jesus asked. Parents, teachers and mentors have implored us to withhold judgement on others, and they are right. But, judgement is an inalienable part of the human psyche. So then, if we must judge, how do we judge justly? Let us not stop short at simply withholding judgement on others based upon appearances. How can we move past that surface level? How can we truly listen to our peers and find out what they are doing, as Nicodemus implored? My grandfather always directed us to “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.” In being empathetic to another’s position, we can come to better understand the driving forces of their life.

How might we show empathy to our friends and strangers, in hopes that we can walk along together and find deeper understanding before rushing to judgement?