343. Twentieth Monday of Ordinary Time

Meditations no. 313 (unofficial computer-aided translation)

The importance of being able to judge wisely.

And behold, one came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” The words of this Gospel character mirror the deeply-felt need of every soul to be able to judge wisely about the important things in life.

Like us, that man wanted to know clearly the principles on which to base his personal behaviour. The great variety of opinions on these matters, and the many different situations encountered in life, lead us to seek some norms of judgement and behaviour which are certain, permanent, harmonious and simple. When we have clear principles, these give us a general framework for assessing the value of the learning which we acquire in our particular field of specialization, and the knowledge which we accumulate over the years. This knowledge can then be seen in its true relation to our ultimate purpose or end.

Our self-giving in the Work, our relationship with God in prayer and in the sacraments, the formation we receive, and the example of our brothers and sisters, all help to give us a set of solid objective values and make us souls of sound judgement. We will then be able to judge correctly the events and situations in which we find ourselves. We have often meditated on this, using the words of our Father: I am going to stir your memories, so that some thought may come to you that will strike you: and that way you will improve your life and enter upon ways of prayer and of Love. And end up becoming a soul of worth: someone who has sound judgement.

That desire of our Father is one to which we must give full effect, so that, from our abundance, others too may have their fill. If God has placed this treasure in our hands, it is so that we may share it with others. Each of us can truthfully say, in the words of an ancient writer: this treasure is not mine, but Another has entrusted it to me, for I am no more than a beggar. At the same time we know we have the obligation of keeping it safe, clean and pure. May we truly resolve to be dedicated souls, souls who are in love, in constant dialogue with God, so that, through our ministry, the gold of this doctrine may be of great benefit to souls.

If we ask this of God, he will lead us to that mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.

Discernment requires supernatural outlook, prudence and a readiness to study things conscientiously.

To be truly wise, it is not enough to know many things, even if they appear to be very profound. There needs to be an overall harmony, with some items of knowledge subordinated to others within a proper order. If this is to happen in our lives there has to be a fundamental principle which assigns each thing to its place. That supreme principle, which should guide our whole life, is the one which our Lord explains in today’s Gospel, when he says: If you would enter life, keep the commandments. It is an outlook which surpasses human knowledge and experience: I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.

We should always try to see things from the supernatural viewpoint that proceeds from the light of faith: When one thinks clearly about the poor things of this world, and compares them with the riches of life with Christ, there is only one plain word, I can’t help thinking, for the road that people choose: stupidity, stupidity, stupidity. Therefore we cannot lose the sense of the supernatural, when evaluating things, when taking a decision, or when giving advice.

Supernatural outlook enables us to apply Christian principles, with prudence and deliberation, to everyday situations. To fulfil God’s Will in everything, do not judge by appearances, but judge by right judgement: it is essential always to be impartial, to have a good grasp of the facts, to distinguish facts from matters of opinion, and to know how to apply the principles of Catholic teaching to the matter in hand. And that demands a deep knowledge of the truths of faith, which in turn necessitates study, as in any other field of knowledge.

Study. -Study in earnest. -If you are to be salt and light, you need knowledge, and suitable training.

Or do you imagine that an idle and lazy life will entitle you to receive infused knowledge? We have to study, and assimilate what we study by reflecting on it continually. And so, in order to ensure soundness of judgement, the Work provides us with thorough ongoing formation in religious doctrine, to ensure the continued vitality of the dear, unchangeable ideas which guide us in our actions and define the vast area of those questions which God has left to man’s free interpretation. The formation the Work gives us has to be matured by personal study. It is not sufficient simply to hear: we need to take an active interest. It is becoming more and more important to be well-versed in doctrinal matters so that we can be of help to others, and so that we ourselves are able to distinguish truth from falsehood in current trends of thought.

Internal and external impediments to right judgement.

To form our critical faculties correctly is a task requiring years of study and prayer. Our presence in the world is another factor contributing to our formation. At the same time, interior life demands a constant battle against opponents from within and without, and we therefore need to be on guard.

One way in which incorrect attitudes can slip in is a gradual acquiescence in our own mistakes or those of others. That is when we have to rectify, clarify our ideas and be humble. Our Father warned us of this danger: It could well happen that, through weakness, we occasionally make mistakes. But we must have clear ideas and a clear conscience. We cannot allow ourselves to do things that are wrong and say they are holy.

On other occasions the atmosphere around us may infect us with its false criteria or its excessively materialistic outlook. It is undeniable - as the Roman Pontiffs have been repeating unceasingly for over a century - that there are many individuals who deliberately set out to darken men’s minds and obscure their consciences. They do what the devil has always done: appear in disguise. Sometimes they appear with feigned expressions of respect and understanding and even piety, hiding the mortal poison underneath, because homicida erat ab initio, et in veritate non stetit, quia non est Veritas in eo (he was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him). They are always murderers and traitors, because the truth is not in them. But there is nothing new about this ploy: it is clear that the devil has run out of ideas and keeps repeating himself. Nonetheless, we have to be vigilant, for that is the most damaging thing that can attack souls.

Confusion might start to creep in through wanting to widen one’s field of knowledge in order to be in tune with the times, or through a mistaken interpretation of freedom, impartiality or tolerance. Our Father pointed this out years ago: Muddled thinking. -It came to my knowledge that your soundness of judgement was faltering. And, to help you understand me, I wrote to you: The devil has a very ugly face and, since he’s so clever, he won’t risk our seeing his horns. He doesn’t make frontal attacks.

-That’s why he so often comes in the disguise of nobleness and even of spirituality!

Despite our eminently positive attitude to the world, we cannot be oblivious to this danger. Should it ever arise in us or in any of our brothers or sisters, we need to put things right straight away. As Christians called by Jesus Christ with a specific vocation, we need purity of doctrine, and certainty and firmness in our judgements. These are things in the Work that we are all responsible for safeguarding always.

We have to ask God always to inspire our minds with that faith and supernatural outlook which will confer an objectively correct order of values on our ideas, affections and actions. That soundness of judgement is something we have to ask for as a gift from God.

Let us ask our Mother, Sedes Sapientiae, Seat of Wisdom, to obtain this divine gift for us, so that our judgements, always moderated by charity in the presence of God, may enable others to appreciate the true reality of things, and not be led astray by influences that are deceptive or that may lack objectivity.