Today's Thoughts...

Today’s Thoughts: Our readings today (Galatians 5:18-25 and Luke 11:42-46) focus on two things – living in the Spirit and judging others. We are challenged by our scriptures today to not be judges but to be people of compassion, to be people of the Spirit.
 
Dietrich Bonhoeffer speaks to Paul and Jesus’ message today with his own reflection. “Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.” Love and grace are gifts of the Spirit and they help us not to be blind judges but to be people of generosity, kindness, joy, peace and faithfulness.
 
As does Henri Nouwen with his words; “As long as we continue to live as if we are what we do, what we have, and what other people think about us, we will remain filled with judgments, opinions, evaluations, and condemnations. We will remain addicted to putting people and things in their "right" place.” In other words, we will place burdens on others and certainly not be people of the Spirit.
 
The question that we might ask ourselves today is do we want to be blind and addicted? Hopefully not – which means we need to remember let God be the judge and every time we are tempted to point out another’s fault, we should think of our own shortcomings. If we approach life this way we will be graced by God’s mercy and patience, we will be living in the Spirit!
 
Have a great Wednesday everyone!