I came upon one of the latest books by Fr. Benedict Groeschel, one of my all time favorite priests. I met him a few times at conferences where we were both speakers. My favorite memory is one at Franciscan University of Steubenville where he came to speak at a Defending the Faith Conference after recovering from his huge nearly fatal accident. When the audience saw him walking up the path in the speaker’s line up to the podium they rose to their feet and applauded. Arriving at podium he remarked wryly “It’s kind of funny. An old man walks in front of a bus and he is treated like a martyr!”
His new book is called “Travelers Along the Way” and is an account of his personal encounters with some saints and others he met only once or twice but who changed his life. One of the chapters is about a transgender person. The key point he makes is that even though we are obliged to think with the Church about such wrong acts, including also those in unblessed marriages or active homosexual relationships, we must never forget that Jesus looked at such sinners with love. We should always hope for their conversion.
Reading this, I challenged myself – when I hear or see someone committing sins is my primary emotion love or is it anger? Righteous anger is correct but when there is no love in it? A priest once said to me, “Ronda, I am glad it is not you, but Jesus, who will be judging me when I die.”
Someone once said we are supposed to image all of God’s attributes but one. Final judgments on the souls of others we must leave to Him alone. Jesus, cleanse my heart of all such judgments to look on others with the merciful love our hero, Fr. Benedict, recommends.
Read more blog entries by Dr. Ronda by visiting ccwatershed.org/rondaview.
Dr. Ronda Chervin has many free e-books and audios on her website rondachervin.com. If you go to her website and read or listen and then want to correspond with her she will be available. Her schedule does not permit, however, responding to comments on the Blog, though she enjoys reading them. Dr. Ronda’s newest project is spiritualityrunningtogod.com.
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1 Robert Fox says...
This is good advice for the friend of someone who is living in a situation which puts their own immortal soul in peril. Reacting with revulsion or anger can harden a heart and thus make it all the more difficult later on down the road for that person to reject a habit of sin. A gentle word of correction is often more powerful… especially if backed up by the example of virtuous living and kindness.
However, when one is in a teaching position in authority within the Body of Christ and that one is intentionally promoting a lifestyle which is contrary to tradition, scripture or the teaching of the magisterium… then charity toward them can easily become false charity. Why? Because individuals in a teaching position are responsible for the souls of others. Also, one's primary responsibility (should such a situation persist after gentle but firm warning) is to that of the souls who will be led astray.
In a day and age where many churchmen ignore basic Catholic teaching within the areas of procreation, sexual or economic ethics or a whole host of other fundamental aspects relating to the immortal soul… it becomes an imperative sometimes to make enemies… even Catholic enemies.
It has always been that way in the Church… and it always will be.
Posted at 1:23 p.m. on June 6, 2011