"Can we free ourselves from the need to judge others? Yes, by claiming for ourselves the truth that we are the Beloved Daughters and Sons of God. As long as we continue to live as if we are what we do, what we have, and what other people think about us, we will remain filled with judgments, opinions, evaluations, and condemnations. We will remain addicted to the need to put people and things in their 'right' place. To the degree that we embrace the truth that our identity is not rooted in our success, power, or popularity, we can let go of our need to judge. 'Do not judge and you will not be judged; because the judgments you give are the judgments you will get' (Matthew 7:1)." (Henri Nouwen)

How true this is! Is not the root of our judging others a fear of seeing our own sins and faults? We would rather point out the faults of others rather than admit and repent of our own failures. It is an attempt to justify ourselves. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We will all be judged by God. My judging others doesn't change or lessen the fact of my own judgment by God. To judge others harshly is to set the standard of God's judgment of me. To extend mercy rather than judgment to others is to hope for God's mercy on me. My judgment of others or their judgment of me will be nothing to the just judgment of God on me. Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!