In last week’s Gospel, our Lord challenged us: “Be compassionate as your Father in Heaven is compassionate!” In today’s Gospel we hear, “Judge not, and you shall not be judged.” True compassion must always be at the heart of judging. That is why it is so important that we recognize and address the plank in our own eye before taking issue with the splinter in our brother’s eye. Our Lord is not asking us to disqualify ourselves from making any judgment, since no one is perfect. Our Lord is setting out a vision of the integrity between what we are and what we say. Sirach teaches that speaking is “the test of men” and their character. One who is upright will utter words that are truthful and encouraging to others. But one whose heart is cluttered with “refuse” will be exposed, since the “fruit” of his mouth speaks volumes about the “tree” that produces it. Being judgmental is actually being inconsistent. We claim the right to judge others but we refuse to be judged. If we face the truth about ourselves and acknowledge our own daily struggles with sin, we are less likely to set ourselves up in judgment over others in a “judgmental” sort of way. If we recognize how much we need God’s mercy, then our hearts will be much more compassionate when we encounter other people’s faults. St Bernard tells us that, “if you have eyes for the shortcomings of your neighbor and not for your own, no feeling of mercy will arise in you but rather indignation. You will be more ready to judge than to help, to crush in the spirit of anger than to instruct in the spirit of gentleness.” Ask the Good Lord to help us not judge others wrongly at any time. Leave the judgement in the hands of the Lord, because He is the only one who is perfect.

Lent is fast approaching. It is one of the five seasons on the Catholic liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday kicks off the Lenten season, which prepares for Easter with six weeks of repentance and closeness to God. It comes after Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras, a time for one last round of celebration before Lent begins.

Catholics observe Ash Wednesday with prayer and fasting to put themselves in the place of Jesus, who spent 40 days fasting in the desert and refusing temptations from Satan before he began his public ministry.

Priests will place ashes on observers’ foreheads in the shape of a cross to mark them as sinners seeking renewal with God. It is a symbolic turning of one’s heart towards God, recognizing the brokenness that exists and the need for salvation.

During Lent, we are asked to devote ourselves to prayer and reading Scripture, to service by giving alms, and to practice self-control through fasting.

Lent is a 40-day season that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday the week before Easter, although some denominations continue it until Holy Saturday.

Fasting and abstinence are obligatory on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, the Friday before Easter. Observers must abstain from eating meat on the other Fridays during Lent. During the fast, observers may eat one full meal a day, or two smaller ones if they don’t add up to a full meal.

Lent begins on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 (Ash Wednesday) and ends at sundown on Thursday, April 17 (Holy Thursday). God Bless you all.

Fr. Charley