Abbey-Roads2

“Judge not and you will not be judged.” - Luke 7:37

Most of us hear these words and yet protest that we must judge between what is evil and what is good.  We must point out the errors of those who teach what is contrary to the gospel.  But I’m not referring to those things, rather, I’m thinking about the tendency we all have to point out to others their sin or disobedience to Church teaching.  Our willingness to exercise the duty of fraternal correction,  a work of mercy some of us eagerly perform, often without charity at times.  

Of course we insist it is a greater charity to correct the sinner and thus save him from eternal damnation, than to leave him alone in his error.  Although we sometimes allow ourselves the liberty to cajole, condemn, mock, and disparage the person and his beliefs.  Despite our failure in charity, we somehow justify ourselves that we at least attempted to lead him to the truth by our “tough love” approach.

“Lord, would you not have us call down fire from heaven to destroy them?” - Luke 9:54

Quite a few years ago, while watching Mother Angelica on her show, she was very upset about Scorcessi’s film at the time, “The Last Temptation of Christ” and she said such things as “I pray that the worst earthquake will destroy Hollywood in punishment for this blasphemy.”  (This is not an exact quote, but she said something to that effect.)  I was taken aback by her tirade and wrote to her, suggesting she ought to be praying in reparation and for the salvation of those who committed this blasphemy.  I suggested she think of the many others who would die in such a disaster.  I got a very nice letter from Mother, wherein she stated she did not say those things, and she did not mean to imply it.  (It is on tape however.)  She obviously had cooled down about the entire matter.

I cite this example because, from time to time, a few of us may have had similar thoughts.  Why doesn’t the Pope or the Bishops excommunicate this guy or that parish?  Why doesn’t the Lord chastise this or that city, as he did Sodom?  Similar to the disciples, we want to call down fire from heaven.  Yet we forget, that the Lord  “shows us generous patience, since he wants none to perish but all to come to repentance.”  - 2 Peter 3:9  And we also forget that we are all sinners, and some of us were perhaps dissident Catholics at one time or another ourselves.

The Barren Fig Tree.

Today’s gospel beautifully illustrates the patience of God.  The vinedresser pleads with the owner of the orchard to allow the barren fig tree to remain, despite the owner’s impatience that the tree bore no fruit and should be rooted up and destroyed.  The vinedresser says, “Sir, leave it another year, while I hoe around it and manure it: then perhaps it will bear fruit.  If not, it shall be cut down.” - Like 13: 6-9.

Thus we get a glimpse into the mind of God here, and the kindness and mercy of Jesus, “who welcomed sinners and ate with them.” -Luke 15:2.  What does this mean for me?  That I need to love others as Jesus does.  That I must show others the same love and patience Jesus has shown to me on the long and winding road that led to my repentance and return to the Church.  Like the vinedresser taking care of the non-productive fig tree, I must care for my brothers and sisters who are not yet perfect.

“You pass judgement according to appearances but I pass judgement on no man.” - John 8:15

I must allow the Lord, who is the true vinedresser, to prune and cultivate the tree as he sees fit; offering the hoeing and manure of my good works, sacrifices and prayers, for those who are most in need of his mercy.  All the while, accepting that they must remain in the orchard of the Church if they are to be saved.  If they are to be excommunicated, that is up to the Magisterium, not me, and even then I am obliged to love and pray for them.