Elder Varnava of Gethsemane Skete (+1906) on Judging

 

The elder earnestly asks the sisters to avoid in their ordinary conversations all gossip, reproaches, and sometimes completely incorrect accusations of others in something sinful. In this matter we often act thoughtlessly. We have no authority to judge our neighbors, and indeed we very often cannot judge rightly.

“One brother,” the batiushka tells the sisters, “having lived in the monastery for many years, was inattentive to the duties of monastic life: at times he would be late for the Liturgy, at times he would oversleep for Matins… Everyone considered him negligent. Yet at his death, all noticed with amazement a certain extraordinary joy shining on his face, and they asked him:

“Why are you so cheerful? Are you not afraid to die? For you have always lived in negligence.

“No, I am not afraid,” he answered. “From the time of my entering the monastery I have judged no one and have borne malice toward no one. I have lived all this time with complete faith in the words of the Savior: judge not, and you will not be judged; forgive, and you will be forgiven. Now I have seen the Angels of God tearing up the record of my sins. Therefore, I depart into eternity with joy.”

From this it is evident, the elder explains, that one must not hasten to accuse even those who, apparently, are truly guilty, because it is always possible to condemn the innocent. And indeed, we cannot be judges of our neighbor, for we see him only sinning, but we do not see him repenting. Each of the sisters must diligently watch over herself, notice and root out her own faults and evil inclinations. Then no one will judge her neighbor—not only judge him—but will even consider him far better than herself.

But if any of you, noticing your sins and carefully observing your secret thoughts, should fall into despondency and despair, then she will sin doubly, for this very hopelessness is the greatest sin.

Therefore, our duty is to be patient in the endurance of sorrows and to be content with everything in life. Above all, you must not give any occasion for the dark spirits to attach themselves to us. Let this be your ascetic struggle: do not keep malice against your neighbor in your heart, as it is said, let not the sun go down upon your wrath (Eph. 4:26). Restrain your tongue so that you may not speak evil in anger against your neighbor. A spoken word cannot be taken back, and when it is uttered in anger it wounds the heart of one’s neighbor more sharply than a knife.

You have a habit: several of you gather together and begin to judge who lives well and who lives poorly. Strive, sisters, for God’s sake—I ask you—never to judge anyone. You see only those who sin, but you do not see their repentance; and sincere repentance is a second baptism. However great the sin may be, after contrition and sincere repentance it is forgiven, and that person becomes pure and pleasing to God. Do not look at the beginning, but at the end, which will show the outcome.

 

Russian source: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Varnava_Gefsimanskij/duhovnyj-alfavit/