There Is No Partiality With God

By Melanie Rigney

October 17, 2007

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr

“…By the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things. We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true. Do you suppose, then, you who judge those who engage in such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? … Yes, affliction and distress will come upon everyone who does evil, Jew first and then Greek. But there will be glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first then Greek. There is no partiality with God.’” (Romans 2:2-3, 9-11)

“‘My soul rests in God alone, from whom comes my salvation. God alone is my rock and salvation, my secure height; I shall never fall.” (Psalms 62:2-3)

“The Lord said: ‘Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. Those you should have done, without overlooking the others.’” (Luke 11:42)

Piety

Lord, help me to examine my own ways and make them more pleasing to you. Help me to love for You, not to judge for You.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/101707.shtml

Eternal Word Television Network

ETWN, the Global Catholic Network, uses an admonishment from St. Pio of Pietrelcina with today’s readings:

Remember, that the devil has only one door by which to enter the soul: the will. There are secret or hidden doors. Temptations, discouragement, and unrest are the wares offered by the enemy. Remember this: if the devil makes noise, it is a sign that he is still outside and not yet within. That which must terrify us is his peace and concord within the human soul.

Sometimes, we make it easy for the devil to come in. We are judgmental of folks we don’t know, who don’t think or look the way we do. We conveniently forget or overlook that seeking to regulate the speech of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levine is ultimately to lose the right or privilege of regulating our own speech. We become modern-day Pharisees, sure that our political belief is the correct one.

None of this is to say that we shouldn’t stand up for what God wants this world and his people to be. But too often, we are quick to judge our neighbors, family, and coworkers and to condemn them for sinful or non-right-thinking behavior when our own lives have shadowy corners. Let us focus on our own souls and behavior first, for the closer we come to Godly behavior, the more likely those we believe are in need of correction will see the Lord in us. Feed your own will to do good and resist the devil’s temptation to raise yourself above others.

Action

Today, keep a journal of every time you are tempted to criticize or judge another—the person who shoves you out of the way of a free seat on the Metro, the woman wearing that awful blue and purple outfit at the grocery store, the priest whose homily goes on entirely too long. At the end of the day, burn the page or pages and thank God for the forgiveness He is always willing to extend to you and all His flawed flock.