Trouble comes at the Most Inappropriate Moment

Trouble comes at the Most Inappropriate Moments!

Is there ever a time when the scent of events can leave us in a quandary of confusion?  As humans there are always moments that will confront our peaceful idea of seclusion from adverse situations.  Jesus, when teaching his disciples, was always confronted with the scribes and Pharisees concerning the law of Moses.  As usual they were questioning the Lord about breaking the tradition of the elders.  “Why do your disciples break the tradition by not washing their hands when they eat a meal?”  Jesus replied, “And why do you break the commandments of God for the sake of your traditions?”  For God said, “Honor your father and your mother,” and “whoever curses father and mother shall die.”  (Mt 15: 1 - 4).  

Point here is we will always discover those who may bring up an edict that they insist you should follow to the letter of the law.  Jesus always countered the Pharisees’ insistence on the law for the sake of the law went beyond the common sense of treating humans in an humane manner. Similar moments such as healing someone on the Sabbath or picking grain when they were hungry, on the Sabbath as well.  But for Jesus, the response became a rhetorical moment that his adversaries felt he was always wrong.  If he was the Son of God, wouldn’t he know what the law was about and adhere to it?   

Sometimes, in our modern reach of understanding laws, we might miss the deeper meaning when the personal integrity of people should take first place when considering a judgment.  That is why the need of a good lawyer in many cases regarding the written law is necessary.  Using the dictates of the law in many instances can convict a person of a minor infraction without considering the aspects of why it was committed may indeed discover that the spirit of a human necessity took first place before passing judgment.  

Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury, He becomes guilty:   - of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor”  - of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another's' faults and failings to persons who did not know them; - of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.  (CCC 2477).

Stop judging that you may not be judged.  For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.  Why do you see the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, “Let me remove that splinter from your eye?  You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your own eye first, then you will be able to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”  (Mt 7: 1- 5).

Trouble may come to us at inappropriate times, but we need to be aware that there may be moments when it is us who sometimes are the creators of our own delusions.  

Ralph B. Hathaway