The Gospel casts its gaze on the blind guides of the blind [with nefarious results] and on those who pretend to remove the mote from their brother's eye while forgetting the beam that dwells in him.
Francis abhorred any judgement of the brothers, for he believed that every haughty expression addressed to them was, practically, addressed to God himself.
Clare advised the sisters to beware of judgement, detraction and murmuring:
"Let the sisters [...] beware of detraction and murmuring" (FF 2809).
In that treasure chest of riches that are the Sources we find many interesting narratives on the subject.
In the Regola bollata (1223) written by Francis we read:
"[The brothers] I admonish them, however, and exhort them not to despise and judge men whom they see dressed in soft and coloured clothing and using delicate food and drink, but rather let each one judge and despise himself" (FF 81).
And in the Letter to the Faithful he continues:
"Those then who have received authority to judge others, let them exercise judgement with mercy, just as they themselves wish to obtain mercy from the Lord: for judgement will be without mercy for those who have not used mercy" (FF 191).
To the brothers themselves:
"If it sometimes happened that a brother missed a word that could hurt, the remorse of conscience would not let him have peace, until he confessed his mistake, humbly throwing himself to the ground and begging the offended one to put a foot on his mouth [...].
The brothers undertook to banish all rancour and incompatibility, and to keep exchangeable love intact" (FF 1449).
Therefore the yardstick for every thought and expression was to look at oneself in honesty before God, leaving the gaze on others to Him.
"Can a blind man guide [another] blind man? [...]
Why do you look at the mote in your brother's eye but the beam in your own eye you do not see?" (Lk 6:39a.41).
Friday of the 23rd wk. in O.T. (Lk 6:39-42)
