Law and Judgment

Today’s Gospel Text:  One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" 25 And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26 how he entered the house of God, when Abi'athar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" 27 And he said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; 28 so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath." Mark 2:23-28

Reflection: “Judge not and you will not be judged.” (Lk. 6: 37)

The pharisees dared to question the righteous judge concerning his disciples: "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" (Vs. 24)

Just because we have an explanation from Jesus we can absolve him of the wrong he has done.

What would happen to the fate of Jesus if he had not given a counter reply which was perfect to the core? Then would the Pharisees  have swallowed him up alive. (cfr.Ps 124:3)

In keeping with this, in most countries which have a Biblical or Christian influence, we find that the human error in arriving at sound judgment is kept in mind even when applying the law or those who are the arbiters of the law keep in mind this norm and follow strict procedures before arriving at any conclusions.

Yet you will find there have been instances when an innocent man has been condemned and judged despite strict codes of procedures, because they have connived in advance to circumvent the law in order to beat the innocent.  

Unfortunately, sometimes the worst offenders are those within the church, who sit on the seat of Jesus, the judge of the universe, who himself has been a victim of unjust judgment at the hands of the chief law enforcers.

    

Can wicked rulers be allied with thee, who frame mischief by statute? They band together against the life of the righteous, and condemn the innocent to death. Ps 94:20-21

Whenever there is media hype or public pressure then we have laws either created or existing laws interpreted or implemented to suit the occasion rather than go by divine law or natural justice. 

In the bargain the innocents are made scapegoats or targets, whose blood like the blood  of Abel keep crying to the heavens:

“For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.” Ps 94:14-15

Prayer:  If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have dwelt in the land of silence. When I thought, "My foot slips,” thy steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. Ps 94:17-18

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

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. 

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Judge not

Scripture/Bible:  "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Matt 7:1-5

Reflection:  Why is human nature so notorious that it refuses to see the log in its own eyes instead of making every effort to see the speck in other people’s eyes?

Why? 

Where did this problem originate? Is it not at the time of our first parents, their fallen nature sought to blame each the other as if there was a log in the others eye when it is only a speck there and log here in one’s own eye.

We need not go down to history to see the many wrongs people have been subjected to, by those sitting in judgment with logs in the eyes, over those with a mere speck. 

If one reflects, the situation appears grim as men with their craftiness hide their misdeeds with creative intelligence and usurped power. 

Thus we arrive at a new class of poor; not just the material but those who are victims of such atrocities unleashed by the wicked or the rich.

Here the rich here are those who wield power and authority or have the power of seduction, either on account of wealth, money, influence, beauty, gift of the gab, and bully about by taking advantage of their apparent poor and weak position in society towards a devious end.

What a depressing world it would be if not for the hope of an eternal life and the intervention of God in the life of those who trust in him.

    

“For what is the hope of the godless when God cuts him off, when God takes away his life? Will God hear his cry, when trouble comes upon him?” Job 27:8-9

Prayer: “Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. O let the evil of the wicked come to an end but establish thou the righteous.” Ps 7:8-9

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us