Judgement And Compassion

Videns autem Pharisaeus, qui vocaverat eum, ait intra se, dicens, Hic si esset propheta, sciret utique quae et qualis esset mulier quae tangit eum, quia peccatrix est. Ecce Pharisaeus veraciter apud se superbus, fallaciter justus, aegram reprehendit de aegritudine, medicum de subventione, qui ipse quoque de elationis vulnere aegrotabat, et ignorabat. Unde necesse semper est ut cum peccatores quosque coaspicimus,nosmetipsos prius in illorum calamitate defleamus. Quia fortasse in similibus aut lapsi sumus, aut labi possumus, lapsi non sumus. Et si censura magisterii debet semper virtute disciplinae vitia persequi, oportet tamen ut sollicite discernamus, quia districtionem debemus vitiis, compassionem naturae. Sanctus Beda, In Lucae Evangelium Expositio, Liber III, Caput VII Source: Migne PL 92.424d-425a

The Pharisee who had invited Him, seeing this, said to himself, 'If this man were a prophet, he would know what sort of woman she is who has touched him, for she is a sinner.' 1 Note that the Pharisee, truly proud in himself and falsely righteous, in sickness denounces sickness, and the physician for his aid, and in his elation he sickens from a wound of which he is ignorant. Whence it is always necessary that when we look upon sinners we should first lament ourselves in their ruin. Because perhaps we have fallen into similar things, or we may have fallen if we have not. And if it should be that the censure of a teacher should drive out faults with the virtue of discipline, yet it is necessary that we judge with care, for it is with a compassionate nature that we should draw from vice. Saint Bede, Commentary On The Gospel of Saint Luke, Book 3, Chapter 7 1 Lk 7.39