Confession and Self-Examination: Thomas a Kempis on Not Judging Others

Thomas a Kempis connected self-examination directly to charity toward others: "We should not therefore be too ready to judge the actions of others, for those things which seem very wicked in our eyes may, in God's sight, be better than we think. If you cannot make yourself what you wish to be, how can you expect to mold another to your liking?"

Thomas taught that honest self-examination naturally produces compassion. The person who truly knows their own weakness cannot look down on another's: "Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be." Self-knowledge and mercy toward others grow together.

Practical application: The next time you feel critical of someone, pause and ask: "Where do I struggle with a similar failing?" Thomas teaches that the impulse to judge others often masks an unwillingness to examine ourselves. Let every judgment of another become an invitation to self-examination.