As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” Mark 2:23–24

I am a victim of pointing fingers at others. I accuse myself of criticizing my fellow men and blaming them for everything they do wrong. I exaggerate. I make a mountain out of a hill.

Like the Pharisees, many of us are greatly concerned about many things that we consider ungodly. From the looks of a person to the way they dress and the way they speak, we have something to say about them. We are not charitably in our thoughts and in our words and many a time our body language is not very welcoming.

Today we are invited to look in our smaller circle. The people we love and those we work with. Let us consider our families and those who are closest to us. Are there things they do and habits they have formed that leave you constantly criticizing them? Point fingers and complain even to the point of quoting the Bible. 

Some other times we also fail to criticize ourselves for things that we do that are contrary to the laws of God. But we become very loud when others do that very action. We are cold to others’ weaknesses. 

The Lord of the Sabbath is inviting me and you today to speak charitably against violations of the external law of God, we must be very careful not to set ourselves up as the judge and jury of others, especially when our criticism is based on a distortion of the truth or an exaggeration of something minor. In other words, we must be careful not to become nitpicky ourselves. Let us avoid taking the position of “Jesus’ secretaries”. 

Today, let us bring ourselves to point out moments that we have been excessively distorted in our criticism. Let us not be obsessed over the minor faults of others regularly but rather let us practice the mercy of God towards all. 

The moment we feel the urge to be critical today be reminded to be obsessed rather with 

• obsessed with charitable words
• obsessed with kind words
• obsessed with genuine words

Judge not, before you judge yourself.
Judge not, if you’re not ready for judgment.
The Road of life is rocky and you may stumble too,
so while you talk about me, someone else is judging you. – Bob Marley

My merciful Judge, give me a heart of compassion and mercy toward all. Remove from my heart all judgmentalness and criticalness. I leave all judgment to You, dear Lord, and seek only to be an instrument of Your love and mercy. Jesus, I trust in You.