I came across a quote from Bishop Desmond Tutu this week:
The solitary human being is a contradiction in terms. We are made for complementarity. We are created for a delicate network of relationships, of interdependence with our fellow human beings… We belong in one family – God’s family, the human family… the greatest good is communal harmony.’
I agree with what he is saying, however sadly there are too many solitary human beings in Hobart. Way too many of us are lonely.
Part of the reason so many of us are lonely is that we have forgotten the basic human skills of relating to people who are different from us, and social media isn’t helping. We end up criticising and judging people who are different rather than seeking to understand.
As I said last week, I have both been challenged and inspired by the sermon on the mount. It is just so practical that it gives very little room for misinterpretation.
This week is no different. Jesus is speaking directly to our tendency to judge others. When he says
‘Do not judge, or you too will be judged’ he is challenging us to see our human relationships from God’s point of view. He is reminding us that there is no such thing as a relationship that is simply between two people… all relationships involve God.
I pray we can hear what Jesus is saying to us.
Matt