we should practise holy charity to our neighbour. "Judge not," he adds, “and you shall not be judged" (v. 37). Here he speaks against those who do not abstain from judging rashly of their neighbours. ” For give, and you shall be forgiven" (ibid). He tells us that we cannot obtain pardon of the offences we have offered to God, unless we pardon those who have offended us. ” Give, and it shall be given to you" (v. 38). By these words he condemns those who wish that God should grant whatsoever they desire, and are at the same time niggardly and avaricious towards the poor. In conclusion he declares, that the measure of charity which we use to our neighbour shall be the same that God will use towards us. Let us, then, see how we should practise charity to our neighbour: we ought to practise it, first, in our thoughts; secondly, in words; thirdly, by works.
First Point. How we should practise charity to our neighbour in our thoughts.
1. "And this commandment we have from God, that he who loveth God, love also his brother." (1 John iv. 21.) The same precept, then, which obliges us to love God, commands us to love our neighbour. St. Catherine of Genoa said one day to the Lord: "My God, thou dost wish me to love my neighbour; but I can love no one but thee." The Lord said to her in answer: "My child, he that loves me loves whatsoever I love." Hence St. John says: ” If any man say: I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar." (1 John iv. 20.) And Jesus Christ has declared that he will receive, as done to himself, the charity which we practise towards the least of his brethren.
2. Hence we must, in the first place, practise fraternal charity in our thoughts, by never judging evil of any one without certain foundation. ” Judge not, and you shall not be judged." He who judges without certain grounds that another has committed a mortal sin, is guilty of a grievous fault; if he only rashly suspects another of a mortal sin, he commits at least a venial offence. But, to judge or suspect evil of another is not sinful when we have certain grounds for the judgment
