b) False suspicions and rash judgments. “Judge not!” says our Lord. We cannot judge rightly, not being omniscient and able to search our neighbour’s heart. We ought, therefore, to judge others most tenderly and indulgently, and never even suspect evil of them without the most conclusive proofs. Still less ought we to condemn them, and without sufficient reason to take for granted that the supposed evil is a fact.
Venial sin and mortal sin. By the distinction which our Lord draws between “motes” and “beams”, He teaches us that there is a great difference between one kind of sin and another.
The reward of heaven is exceeding great. “Good measure pressed down, and shaken together, and running over shall they give unto you” (Luke 6, 38). God will not be sparing, but generous in His rewards.
Degrees of happiness in heaven. The more a man measures, the more will be measured to him, i. e the more good a man does on earth, the higher will be his reward in heaven.
Application. Do not our Lord’s words about the mote and the beam smite your own conscience? You know the faults of others much better than you know your own, and you judge them severely, while you excuse yourself. The Saints did just the contrary: they were severe to themselves, and indulgent to others. Guard against uncharitable judgments and conversations.
8. The narrow gate and the strait way.
Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction[1], and many there are who go in thereat[2]. How narrow is the gate and strait is the way that leadeth to life[3], and few there are that find it!
COMMENTARY.
The road to heaven and the road to hell. The narrow, up-hill road, entrance to which is gained through a strait gate, signifies walking in the way of God’s commandments, which restrain our desires and passions, but which must be obeyed unless we would stray from the road to heaven. It costs much effort, watchfulness and self-denial to observe the commandments and not to stumble in the narrow way, or, if we stray from the road, to return to it by true penance! For this reason our Lord says in another passage: “The kingdom of heaven suffereth
