Stop judging...for even as you judge, know that you too will not be spared judgment. Today we encounter a command by Jesus that appears to be practically unrealistic to observe. We can never go through a day without passing a judgment! Be it criticism or merely an observation, we are always inclined to pass ‘judgment.’ It appears to be our nature to “judge.” However, I believe this is not what Jesus is referring to. He is not asking us to desist from making observations or criticisms that are given as correction measures. Jesus himself reminds us that we owe it to one another (the community of believers) to give and accept correction (cf. Matthew 8:15-17). Rather, Jesus’ command is meant to caution us against passing condemnation when making a criticism or an observation (how dare she does that! Doesn’t he know better?) For in whatever we do, we should always remain charitable. He/she who condemns puts the self above others and as such lacks charity. Moreover, as Jesus makes it clear, we cannot afford to condemn because we are in the same mix: we are all sinners. Judgment belongs to the one without sin, God. Only God should judge. When we judge (condemn), therefore, we usurp God's responsibility and claim God's place, an act which makes us worse ‘sinners’ than those we are condemning/judging.