Every man is foolish in many instances, when he thinks he can realize everything. What is more horrible than superficiality? Who can know the heart of a man, his past, his inner background, the elements he inherited from others, the effects that surrounded him and took part in his formation since childhood and their consequences on his development, on his experiences with demons, and on his complicated present? Do not judge any man, and do not reject any sinner, for you do not know what flows out of you if you were in his position.
If you were obliged to give your opinion about someone, be cautious not to criticize him harshly without love, Recognize his good and negative gifts at one time, and make up an opinion to yourself, keeping in mind that God alone knows best about him, for you only see the outer layers of his soul. Do you rather know yourself? Then how do you judge the mobs and enemies, as long as you are not omniscient and do not know the mystery of life and death? Man! Know your limits, and confess your folly, so that you may give your heart wisdom and humility, and you may ask your Lord, in every respect, what he wants, and what you have to say and to do, according to the gospel of his constructive love.
God is Mercy, Forgiveness, Provider, and Love, giving us grace for grace. If you abide in him, you will love all in your Father’s affection, and his Holy Spirit will urge you to lovingkindness and tender mercies. Under this deepness, there will be no place for hurtful criticism, or rejection of the poor in your heart, for your Father in heaven forgave their iniquities when he gave his Son on the cross. How then can you judge those who have been forgiven and released? There are no unforgiven iniquities in the world except refusing Christ and his righteousness.
Nevertheless we must judge the evil spirit who is working in people, nations, and faiths; but we must love the man who is pressed by such spirit, for God desires all men to be saved. The sea of love flows from God to release the slaves of the evil one. Are you of the evil spirit? Do you despise other people? Are you yourself in need of liberation, or were you broken to your haughtiness, and are helping God in releasing those that are bound by the devil?
The agent of God’s mercy who wants to embody him in you is like a flood, for God is love, and is determined to put the fullness of his love in you, that you may become the source of kindness in your surroundings.
But if you remained blind to the folly of your malice, you cannot lead another man to God at all, and you have no right to teach people any sciences or theology, for you have not realized yet that every normal man is blind, ignorant, and poor. However, as Christ’s forgiveness opened the eyes of your heart, and you participated in the great flowing of his power, and the knowledge of his love, you have become a lampstand in your dark surroundings. Do not think that you are something, for all the good in you is from God. We have nothing to be proud of. We have only to thank him who made us good. You are nothing, but your Lord is everything. He desires to make you exactly like his own vision.
He, who lives near brothers and sisters in Christ, soon sees their small mistakes. And he, who thinks himself an expert in the ways of the Holy Spirit, and boasts as if he were mighty to save the brothers, begins to remove the speck from their eyes, which causes acute pain. Alas! Those that are godly in particular rarely see that they are wicked in their souls, for they are blinded with spiritual haughtiness, which deprives them from seeing their many sins. We recommend, dear brother, that you do not criticize the others’ faults, but reform yourself first, and then pray continuously for your enemies. Be aware that you are the smallest and the most needy in your community. To confess your infirmity is not failing. It is a divine power. So criticize yourself, and judge your sins. Do not judge them superficially. Then you may become merciful to your brother’s infirmities.