Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

17TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (July 29, 2007)

Suggested Emphasis

"I must see whether or not their actions fully correspond to the cry against them. I mean to find out."

Salesian Perspective

Today's Scriptures show us that God's judgment is both righteous and compassionate.

The Book of Genesis describes God's outrage over the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah. However, before taking any action, God intends to personally determine whether or not the outcry has a basis in fact.

God's judgment is never rash.

St. Francis de Sales says in his Introduction to the Devout Life: "How offensive to God is rash judgment. It is a kind of spiritual jaundice that causes all things to appear evil to the eyes of those infected with it." (IDL, Part 3, Chapter 28)

Rash judgments have far less to do with the behaviors of our neighbor and a great deal more to do with the machinations and moods of our own hearts. Rash judgments are signs of the presence of arrogance, self-satisfaction, fear, bitterness, jealousy, hatred, envy, ambition and condescension within those whose judgments are rash.

Rash judgments seldom deal with facts. Rash judgments are founded upon appearance, impression, hearsay and gossip. Rash judgments are made in an instant (hence the term "snap" judgments), based not in reason, but in emotion.

Rash judgments do not promote reconciliation and peace; rather, rash judgments produce division and injustice. Francis de sales wrote: "Rash judgments draw a conclusion from an action in order to condemn the other person." (Ibid)

Finally, rash judgments seldom - if ever - result in compassionate action.

Francis de Sales wrote: "Whoever wants to be cured (of making rash judgments) must apply remedies, not to the eyes or intellect, but to the affections. If your affections are kind, your judgments will be likewise." (Ibid)

To be like God - to live like Jesus - to be instruments of the Holy Spirit - requires that our judgments of one another be righteous: based in fact, not fiction; rooted in sense, not suspicion; focused on behavior, not bias. Divine judgment is always consumed with truth, committed to justice, and characterized by compassion.

How do our judgments stack up?

Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS, is the Executive Director of the De Sales Spirituality Center.