Seriously Funny

Balancing humor, holiness, and humility in judgments

06/22/2020

Matthew 7:1-5 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. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

Lawyers are usually the last people we expect to make us laugh. What could be more dry and dull than to read a legal defense? Surprisingly, therefore, as I recently read the landmark Supreme court case, “Obergefell v. Hodges,” I found myself laughing out loud. That case legalized same-sex marriage, which is no laughing matter, but Antonin Scalia’s dissenting opinion was delightful. First, he quoted a statement from the majority decision approving same-sex marriage, and then he proceeded to dissect it and discredit it. Regardless of your personal feelings about the decision, you might enjoy his dissent.

The late supreme wrote, quoting the majority: “The nature of marriage is that, through its enduring bond, two persons together can find other freedoms, such as expression, intimacy and spirituality.” Then Scalia sarcastically asked: “Really? Who ever thought that intimacy and spirituality [whatever that means] were freedoms? And if intimacy is, one would think Freedom of Intimacy is abridged rather than expanded by marriage. Ask the nearest hippie.” He goes on: “Expression, sure enough is a freedom, but anyone in a long-lasting marriage will attest that that happy state constricts, rather than expands, what one can prudently say.” Can all the men here please give me an Amen!? My point here is that all wise lawyers always maintain a healthy sense of humor. Even if they take their job seriously, they do not take themselves too seriously.

June 22 is the feast of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher. St. Thomas More was a towering figure in his day as Lord Chancellor, even though he was locked up in the Tower of London before being beheaded for treason to the king. To be the Lord Chancellor of England is roughly equivalent to the American Supreme Court, like Judge Antonin Scalia. Indeed, both men were devout Catholics who took their jobs seriously but not themselves. St. Thomas More is said to have quipped as he lay his head down on the chopping block, “Do take pity on my beard. After all, it has not committed treason.” Somewhat more soberly, he is said to have remarked: “I die the king’s good servant, but God’s first.” In other words, all wise lawyers keep a good sense of humor but also a sharp sense of holiness and even humility, because they know that in the end, God gets the last laugh.

In the gospel today, Jesus gives a little legal advice to all lawyers, and indeed to everyone about exercising care when you judge someone. A Supreme Court justice or a Lord Chancellor might call Jesus’ advice “legal restraint.” Jesus, the just Judge of all, says: “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.” I think the real benefit of a little levity in the legal realm is it allows us to judge with a light touch, rather than a heavy hand. That is, even if we treat the subject matter, like same-sex marriage or high treason of a king, with all seriousness and sobriety, we do not take ourselves too seriously. We realize we are not perfect judges, that we often err, and ultimately, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God, who alone judges justly.

My friends, sooner or later, we are all thrust into the role of judge, and have to declare our opinions on weighty matters. When we cast our ballet in local or national elections, we judge the direction our county or our country should go. When we raise our children and discipline them for good or bad actions, we stand in judgment on their behavior. When we kneel in confession we become our own judge, jury and executioner in our own moral and spiritual case. In a sense, we cannot avoid judging all together. We, too, must render a verdict like Antonin Scalia and Thomas More.

But maybe we can judge with a lot of humor, a little holiness and even a dose of humility. Why? Because the last tribunal of justice is not the Supreme Court of the United States, or the Lord Chancellor of England. Rather, it is the throne of God, which the Scriptures remind us in Exodus 25 and Hebrews 9, is the seat of mercy.

Praised be Jesus Christ!