the church of the
ascension
in the city of
new york
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wednesday, March 18
Psalm 82 / Romans 5:1-11 / John 8:12-20
Judging links these readings.
The Psalmist cries out to judges, How long will ye judge unjustly? He accuses them of walking in darkness and accepting the wicked when, instead, they should be defending the poor, the fatherless, the afflicted, the needy and all children of God. He prays: "Arise, oh God, judge the earth." In John, Jesus' teachings have a new message. He rejects a call to judge the woman caught in adultery. "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone. ... Ye judge after the flesh. I judge no man." Paul widens the frame by talking not just about the troubles arising from the failings of judges but addressing all tribulations: "tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope."
When faced with tribulation, rather than looking for others to blame or judge, let us ask: "What is trying to happen in my life?" Let us remember and know that the way will open.
Every experience, if accepted, examined, and understood, makes us more able to love, to have empathy and understanding for all men. It opens us to hope.
All are children of God. No one starts life wanting to be a jerk. When we have an impulse to judge another and label someone destructive or dumb or dysfunctional or selfish or greedy or psychotic — whatever — let us all stop and know that God's will is trying to happen through that person. Though they are a tribulation to themselves and to us, let us be patient, open to their experience and ours. Let us not cast the first stone.
Let us join in a commitment not to judge, not to point fingers, not to ridicule, blame or shun any human being. Jesus died for the sinners. He judged no man.
— Connie Heginbotham
Judging links these readings.
The Psalmist cries out to judges, How long will ye judge unjustly? He accuses them of walking in darkness and accepting the wicked when, instead, they should be defending the poor, the fatherless, the afflicted, the needy and all children of God. He prays: "Arise, oh God, judge the earth." In John, Jesus' teachings have a new message. He rejects a call to judge the woman caught in adultery. "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone. ... Ye judge after the flesh. I judge no man." Paul widens the frame by talking not just about the troubles arising from the failings of judges but addressing all tribulations: "tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope."
When faced with tribulation, rather than looking for others to blame or judge, let us ask: "What is trying to happen in my life?" Let us remember and know that the way will open.
Every experience, if accepted, examined, and understood, makes us more able to love, to have empathy and understanding for all men. It opens us to hope.
All are children of God. No one starts life wanting to be a jerk. When we have an impulse to judge another and label someone destructive or dumb or dysfunctional or selfish or greedy or psychotic — whatever — let us all stop and know that God's will is trying to happen through that person. Though they are a tribulation to themselves and to us, let us be patient, open to their experience and ours. Let us not cast the first stone.
Let us join in a commitment not to judge, not to point fingers, not to ridicule, blame or shun any human being. Jesus died for the sinners. He judged no man.
— Connie Heginbotham
