Friday 5th September – Friday of week 22 of the year

Reflection: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

DO NOT JUDGE

Today, the Holy Spirit reminds us of a very important aspect of our Christian experience. Every man is prone to self-righteousness. Self-righteousness is a blindfold that prevents us from seeing others the way God sees them. We often expect too much from others, forgetting that we are all striving for perfection. God alone is the epitome of perfection. St Paul’s life is an exemplary one that sheds light on what our attitude as Christians should be with regards to passing judgment on others. He says in today’s passage that a Christian is a servant of God, and as such is wholly accountable to God.

Sometimes we find ourselves as victims of criticism, accusation and judgment. How are we to manage such situations? First, we must note as stated earlier that our accountability in life and in our work in the service of God is primarily unto God, and not unto any man. With this in mind, we should turn to God who vindicates the righteous, for the Scripture says in Psalm 37:5&6:“Give yourself to the Lord; trust Him, and He will help you; He will make your righteousness shine like the noonday sun.”  We should allow God to declare us innocent Himself; not our own efforts, because if a man’s ways pleases the Lord, He will cause even his enemies to be at peace with him (Proverbs 16:7). Hence, St. Paul rightly said that he does not even pass judgment on himself, even though he knows that his conscience is clear and that he is innocent. (1 Corinthians 4:3-4).

On the other hand, if you have this ugly habit of passing judgment on others whether you think you are right or not, bear in mind that you are indirectly becoming rebellious because judgment is reserved for God alone. Let us check our lives today, and see the ways we have fallen short of this one command – “do not judge”, and ask God for mercy; for He will surely grant you pardon.

When we are in the position to correct others, we must do so with love respect and make it a point of duty to pray for the person. In this way, you would have proven yourself a loving child of God. God bless you as hearken to His voice today.

PRAYER: I thank you Father for your Holy Spirit who has reminded me today not to be judgmental towards others, please give me the grace to abide by this instruction always. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 1778 – Conscience is a judgement of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act that he is going to perform, is in the process of performing, or has already completed. In all he says and does, man is obliged to follow faithfully what he knows to be just and right. It is by the judgement of his conscience that man perceives and recognizes the prescriptions of the divine law.

HIDE A TREASURE: “It is God who is the judge, condemning some and acquitting others.” Psalm 75:7 GNB

Readings for Today: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Psalm 37:3-6, 27-28, 39-40; Luke 5:33-39.