A word about non-judgment of neighbors

In the “Sermon on Non-Judgment of Neighbors” St. Anastasius Sinait urges the reader to refrain from criticizing and judging others, focusing on awareness of his own sins and shortcomings. Avoiding condemnation at the Last Judgment is directly related to the non-condemnation of others. The essay begins with a story about a certain monk who lived a careless life, but before his death he discovered amazing joy and peace. Before his death, he told the brethren that he had been at the Judgment of God, where the Angels presented a list of his sins. However, he reminded the Lord that throughout his entire monastic life he had never condemned anyone or held a grudge against anyone. As a result, his sins were forgiven and he went peacefully to the Lord. St. Anastasius encourages everyone to imitate the example of the non-judgmental monk, to turn their gaze away from the sins of others and instead to delve deeper into self-knowledge, realizing their own weaknesses. It is emphasized that such consciousness leads to humility, and humility, in turn, brings a person closer to God and grants forgiveness of sins and inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven. The word of the holy father Anastasius of Sinai about a certain father who passed away, who did not condemn anyone. Do you want, brothers, to avoid righteous condemnation for sins at the judgment of God? If you want, then observe one of the main conditions: do not judge anyone. You will not condemn, and the Lord will not condemn you. In this He Himself is not a false witness for you. “Judge not,” he says, “and you will not be judged, and do not condemn, lest you be condemned” (Luke 6:37). The Holy Fathers also teach: “Do not judge,” says St. Demetrius of Rostov, “unless you want to be condemned” (Works of St. Dime. T. I, p. 365). And what the Lord said is actually fulfilled on those who do not judge. St. Anastasius of Sinaite narrates the following: One monk, who spent his life in negligence and laziness, fell into a serious illness and became close to death. And in the monastery where he lived, there was a custom for all the brethren to gather at the dying person and not leave the bed until he had breathed his last. According to this custom, the brethren gathered to see the mentioned monk, and when they saw him they were much amazed. He died without any fear of death, with gratitude to God and a cheerful face. They said: “brother, we know that you have spent your life carelessly; tell us what makes you so happy and cheerful at the hour of death”? The monk answered: “Truly, honest fathers, I lived carelessly; but this is what happened to me. I was at the judgment of God, and the Angels brought out the handwriting of my sins, read them to me and asked: do you know that these are your sins? I know, I said, but since I rejected the world and took monastic vows, I have not condemned anyone and have not held any grudge against anyone, and therefore I pray to the Lord to fulfill His words on me: do not condemn, lest you be condemned, leave it and it will be left to you. And as soon as I said this, the Angels immediately tore up the handwriting of my sins, and that is why I am now carefree and joyfully go to the Lord.” After these words, the monk died peacefully. In view of such mercy of God, shown to a brother who did not condemn anyone, we, brethren, will imitate him and turn our eyes away from the sins of others. Instead of looking at the sins of others, let us deepen within ourselves the consciousness of our own weaknesses, and from such consciousness humility will be born, and through humility we will draw closer to God. And when we draw closer to God, then we will receive all-forgiveness for our sins and we will be worthy of being heirs of the Kingdom of God. Amen. You might be interested in: