JUDGING IN DENIAL
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.” – Matthew 7:1
Cisco did as told and followed rules out of obligation. He’s been part of Catholic Charismatic communities for almost 20 years. Punishment will find its way into his life if he disobeyed, he thought. Others may suffer consequences of his actions.
The effects? He was judgmental, but in denial. If someone didn’t go by the book, he judged them. Another thing that came with being judgmental was unforgiveness. He thought that acknowledging his need to forgive someone meant that he was saying that person was bad.
But one time, he was required to attend a two-month healing seminar for his formation program. There, he finally understood that good people with the best of intentions can offend others unintentionally, and recognizing an offense doesn’t mean he’s blaming them or calling them bad. He saw that unrecognized and unforgiven offenses pushed inside and ignored manifested in how he judged others and how he was too hard on himself.
Today, he’s no longer in denial. He’s less judgmental, more forgiving but still a work in progress.Carlo Lorenzo (carloflorenzo@yahoo.com)
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REFLECTION:
The spirit of the law is love. Am I doing what’s right primarily as an expression of love or as obligation to avoid punishment?
Jesus, You suffered, died and rose again for my sins to be forgiven unconditionally though I don’t deserve it. Remind me every time I am offended to forgive in my heart, whether the person asks for forgiveness or not, whether I think he deserves it or not.
Blessed Jutta of Thuringia, pray for us.
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