[ Today's Readings ]
It does not concern me in the least
that I be judged by you or any human tribunal;
I do not even pass judgment on myself;
I am not conscious of anything against me,
The Pharisees are always ready to pass judgment.
“The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers,
and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same;
but yours eat and drink.”
We tend to be afraid of the judgment of the Pharisees. We make slight changes to our behavior so as to avoid their notice or their ire. On the one hand, we do well to not give offense when unnecessary. On the other, we need to ensure that the old worldly paradigms don't determine our actions. We can't let them force our new wine into old wineskins or tear our new cloak to patch old ones. This is the risk of conformity with a system that is fundamentally broken. This is the system that the biblical tradition regards collectively as the world when it speaks of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
We need to be shaken from complacency so that we no longer say "The old is good." It isn't good enough. It can never give the freedom that comes when only the LORD is our judge.
Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time,
until the Lord comes,
for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness
and will manifest the motives of our hearts,
and then everyone will receive praise from God.
The psalmist knows that the "salvation of the just comes from the Lord." We need to stop acting like ours comes from the world. We need to stop fearing the judgments of man when the judgment of the LORD is what matters.
The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
If we're afraid of how others see us, afraid of their criticism, or afraid of their judgment, the LORD offers us freedom this morning.
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