Paul continues to speak to us today in his Epistle to the Romans:
You have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, “We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.” Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. For he will repay according to each one’s deeds: to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (Rm. 2: 1-11).
Sometimes we are quick in our assessments of people, their actions and their motives without knowing all of the facts. Today, Paul reminds us to slow down, and to not be so quick to judge others, because, chances are, we are not blameless in our lives. We do not know the state of people’s consciences or of their souls. There was the old example in moral theology: you are in a store, and you see an elderly lady taking a can of cat food and putting it in her purse. Objectively, she has stolen the cat food. She is shoplifting. Is she morally culpable of sin? What is the state of her soul? Before you make a final determination, here are the rest of the facts: the elderly lady has no place to live. Her husband died and left her penniless. She is ill and starving. Now what is the evaluation?
Let us pray: Gracious God, sometimes we are quick to judge others, to place blame upon them. Open our eyes, and help us to see others through the eyes of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Where there is pain, let us bring healing. Where there is sadness, let us bring joy. Where there is loneliness, let us be present. Guide us, we pray with Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, and also pray for Joan Robinson who is suffering from cancer and Sue and Sean Coleman.
THIS SUNDAY IS FATHER’S DAY. Remember your fathers (biological, spiritual and those who have been father to you) in prayer this weekend.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
You have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, “We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.” Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. For he will repay according to each one’s deeds: to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (Rm. 2: 1-11).
Sometimes we are quick in our assessments of people, their actions and their motives without knowing all of the facts. Today, Paul reminds us to slow down, and to not be so quick to judge others, because, chances are, we are not blameless in our lives. We do not know the state of people’s consciences or of their souls. There was the old example in moral theology: you are in a store, and you see an elderly lady taking a can of cat food and putting it in her purse. Objectively, she has stolen the cat food. She is shoplifting. Is she morally culpable of sin? What is the state of her soul? Before you make a final determination, here are the rest of the facts: the elderly lady has no place to live. Her husband died and left her penniless. She is ill and starving. Now what is the evaluation?
Let us pray: Gracious God, sometimes we are quick to judge others, to place blame upon them. Open our eyes, and help us to see others through the eyes of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Where there is pain, let us bring healing. Where there is sadness, let us bring joy. Where there is loneliness, let us be present. Guide us, we pray with Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, and also pray for Joan Robinson who is suffering from cancer and Sue and Sean Coleman.
THIS SUNDAY IS FATHER’S DAY. Remember your fathers (biological, spiritual and those who have been father to you) in prayer this weekend.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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