Gospel in Art: Judge not, and you will not be judged

The Gossip Mural with Demons, All Saints Church, Little Melton, Norfolk14th C © Wikimedia

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 2 March 2026
Luke 6:36-38

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: 'Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.'

Reflection on the mural painting

In this morning's Gospel, Jesus urges us to step back from the instinct to judge or condemn. He knows how quickly criticism can rise within us, how readily we measure others while overlooking our own frailty. And when we criticise, we gossip. So criticism leads to all sorts of bad stuff. It is far easier to point out faults than to recognise that we, too, do plenty wrong every day. So, instead of harsh judgement, Christ places before us a different way: compassion, patience, and a willingness to forgive. These attitudes reflect the way God deals with us. The Lord's first movement toward us is not condemnation but mercy; not rejection, but pardon freely.

I think gossip is one of the main consequences of judging others. Gossip is always based on judgement. Gossip often begins quietly, in the small act of judging another person's weakness or mistake and then passing that judgement along in conversation. It can feel harmless (even entertaining!), yet it slowly erodes charity. When we speak about others without kindness, we reduce them to their faults and forget their dignity as children of God. Gossip wounds reputations, hardens our own hearts, and creates a culture of suspicion rather than trust. So if we wish to refrain from it, we must guard our interior life: refusing to dwell on negative assumptions, pausing before we speak, and asking whether our words are true, necessary, and loving. Silence, prayer, and the deliberate choice to speak well of others are small but powerful disciplines that help us shape our hearts more closely to the merciful heart of Christ.

A striking and unusual image appears on the north nave wall of All Saints church, Little Melton, Norfolk, England. We see a group of figures encircled by three grotesque devils, presided over by Titivallus, the so-called demon of gossip. Titivallus is a medieval mischievous demon in folklore who was said to collect the idle chatter and gossip of churchgoers, especially whispered talk during Mass. He was often portrayed in manuscripts and church art as a warning against careless speech. Because he became associated with gossip and trivial talk, people sometimes assume a connection with the word "tittle-tattle". The mural painting is a vivid visual warning of the spiritual harm that gossip brings, bringing great delight to the demons.

LINKS

Christian Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reading: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-6-36-38-2026/