Story of the man who believed his wife was going deaf. He entered the room and asked her a simply question: honey what’s for dinner? No answer. A second time a bit closer: no answer. Finally he got right behind and asked the same question. To which she turned around sharply and yelled: For the 3rd time, Chicken!
Our gospel today continues with last weeks. In both stories, Jesus is not speak in all circumstances to turn the other cheek or to not judge. A police man who turned the other cheek would be causing greater harm, a doctor who did not judge a patience sickness would be doing a disservice.
Jesus wants us to act and respond not just in keeping with external rules. He wants us to create within our hearts, a living compass of action.
We must also remember that a blind cannot lead blind: if we are spiritually blind, how can we lead a good physical life? How will our job and family and any of those things come to a good end?
Again, these must first be based on the premise of charity, of right response rather than reaction in situations. As last week we spoke about the natural responses we may have, so in a similar way we speak about judging others. We are created by God with a mind that examines, forms judgements and then makes a willed decision. At times our judgements can be influenced though by inner movements and passions.
Jesus tells us that we can only produce good fruit from a good tree and from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. The inner passions we feel have a huge influence on us in making decisions. We have concupiscible appetites which draw us to a certain good, and then we have irascible that help us to overcome or move past an evil. Senses like fear and sadness are much harder to deal with because they deal with an evil or danger that is present and the emotion and source of it resides within us. However, when we are able to displace that emotion into an exterior enemy, things become easier. We can make the enemy outside of us and thus the blame and issue resides in them.
St. Augustine says that the only reason why we can see a fault in another person, is because we have first seen it in ourselves. When we judge another person for being impatience, is it because we are impatient?
However, we are given a distorted view. As we spoke last week with forgiveness, when we choose to hold onto anger and resentment, that becomes our impulsive action and we make judgements that are not clear. Forgiveness gives us clarity and this is where forgiveness and trust differ: forgiveness is a free gift of the right of anger we have where is trust is a mutual willing to reestablish a bond.
Are our judgments based on self hurt/ resentment? Do we have the freedom to make a wise and correct decision. We can only properly help when we ourselves have dealt with issues.
As Lent approaches, we focus again on two realites: forgiveness and confession. Do we avoid confession because of a faulty judgment of ourselves? Do we not forgive because of a fear inside of us?