"In the Gospel for today's Mass (Monday of the 20th week of the year) Jesus resists being called 'good teacher.' He replies that no one is good but God alone. Of course this puzzles us, since Jesus is God. But the young man he rebukes does not know or understand that. Hence Jesus warns him, and us that we human beings are a mixed bag. We are gifted, but flawed; capable of enormous goodness and also of great sinfulness. As such we ought to avoid the sin of rash judgment that can occur in numerous ways.
"Usually we think first of rash judgment as the tendency to believe too quickly a bad report about someone else based on very little evidence. Just because something is said or reported does not mean it is accurate or reported in context. We do well to avoid quick conclusions and discern what is true from what is false or exaggerated. . . .
"Another aspect of rash judgment is the tendency to make conclusions that are too sweeping or simplistic, given the limited information we have. We do this regarding both people and situations."
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish,
Washington, DC) reflected on some of the consequences of rash judgment (including taking offense at things when none was given or intended) and on the need for discernment that proceeds with careful deliberation that is
on-going, charitable, and sober.
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: On The Problem of Rash Judgments and the Discernment to Which We are Called (16 AUG 20)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment