**Do Not Judge & the Golden Rule**

       In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 7, Jesus said to his disciples: "Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you." What is judging? Today, if people don't like to hear what you say about them, you are likely to be accused of judging them. Criticizing or correcting a person out of love or for the common good is not judging. Criticizing someone becomes judging only when you do it without love, but with the intention of condemning that person.
         We all know the golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Having heard what Jesus said above, we can change it to read: "Do unto others as you would have the Lord God do unto you." Attain union with God thru the Holy Eucharist and you'll automatically follow the rule without thinking about it.