Wise Judgments

Today’s Gospel Text:   As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." 34 But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."

35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Matt 9:32-38

Reflection: To hear a word of judgment, a word of condemnation and how discouraged we are to move ahead in life’s journey.

It is the sinful human nature to spew venom and if you thought that it is only women who do it then know that the men too get into such pre-judgments and slander and the Pharisees in the gospel were no less, when they say: "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."

Forming judgments about daily things in life is unavoidable. Our judgments help us to make the better choices of life. When walking we have to make judgments as to which road to take, which side of the road to walk and which way to go. We make judgments about which product to buy and what to cook and what to feed.  A busy life or a life full of activities is a life of constant judgments.

When we make a choice we almost always feel that we are making the best choice in keeping with our means and ability until someone points it out to us or unless we have realized our folly. 

We are limited by our mortality, limitations of being, perception of the future, circumstances of life and upbringing, background, friend circle and relatives, inability to calculate the various variables, etc.   All these factors influences our day to day judgments of things and hence our decision making.

If we can falter, in the ordinary and daily routine of life and its judgment, then how much more in the judgments we form of others.

Worse would be, when we begin to form our judgments about spiritual persons and matters, more so when we know in our hearts that we don’t really understand them.  In fact, it should be the other way; it is the spiritual man who is supposed to judge all things.  But worse still, when we think of a spiritual man as one who is consecrated, with a master in some theological studies, holding some church office but absence of sound Christian spirituality.

  

The spiritual man judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 1 Cor 2:15

Prayer:  Lord it is with you there is wisdom and might, counsel and understanding, (Job 12:13) may I seek it even as I acknowledge it always. 

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