judgment
My favorite comics at the moment are The Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes. Favorites for one reason because they are eccentric or even weird, for another reason because they are online on my computer desktop ready and waiting to be clicked open.
Online because when the PCNH sent us a subscription renewal for over $400 a year we finally gave up and dropped out. We wrote back "please cancel" and they kept delivering and billing; when we phoned, they said "Oh, we do not accept written cancellations, you have to telephone." And their comeback argument when they got us on the phone was to renew for only two or three hundred dollars, which did not entice well at all, not at all. I also was harboring a smoldering ember because of the sheer hateful meanness their management tried to treat a longtime favorite editor, a local Panama City man, when he was retired during a downsizing a few years ago. So, it ain't no way in Hell, nomesane?
No, it's just me, not with a chip or a grudge, but with a very long memory.
And I've not researched details, but I was surprised and delighted at how much Calvin's father resembled Bill Watterson when Watterson was a much younger man. Biography or autobiography? IDK, but there's got to be family history in there somewhere.
The Far Side can be eccentric, yea weird unto creepy,
The Far Side would be impossible to beat for imagination. It has occurred to me that some aspiring cartoon artist died and was told he had to work his way out of purgatory before he could go on to either Heaven or Hell, and this is his effort.
Having in my Time worked in government offices and private companies among idiots, Dilbert was/is a longtime favorite
until Scott Adams exposed his racism and made himself a casualty of the great social war. It was one of the top best, but I don't
anticipate his returning any Time soon; we are in a certitudinous End Time in which there is no concept of rehabilitation, forgiveness, or absolution.
And, yes, I realize that I have stepped into my own trap.
What about you? Are you judging someone? "Judge not, lest with what judgment ye judge ye be judged." Are you a good practicing devout faithfully worshiping pious communicating Bread & Wine Eating and Drinking Christian who snubs someone who has offended your sensibilities because their decisions and way in life did not meet your expectations and "standards"? In our Book of Common Prayer (page 316) there's a liturgy you might read (scroll down). Actually, it's been politically correct watered down from the Bible passage on which it's based - - 1 Corinthians 11:27f, "... whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation ..." (KJV). St Paul's NT Greek word is κρίμα, "krima" which some English translations soften to "judgment". I'm with the King James Version - - forgive us our sins AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US, and if we do not forgive, we are, unworthily, eating and drinking damnation.
Whatever. If you cannot forgive someone or something, turn yourself over to your God to deal with; in the case of our God, his property is always to have mercy.
Again, it's just me, the Bubba.
An Exhortation
This Exhortation may be used, in whole or in part, either during the
Liturgy or at other times. In the absence of a deacon or priest, this
Exhortation may be read by a lay person. The people stand or sit.
Beloved in the Lord: Our Savior Christ, on the night before
he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and
Blood as a sign and pledge of his love, for the continual
remembrance of the sacrifice of his death, and for a spiritual
sharing in his risen life. For in these holy Mysteries we are
made one with Christ, and Christ with us; we are made one
body in him, and members one of another.
Having in mind, therefore, his great love for us, and in
obedience to his command, his Church renders to Almighty
God our heavenly Father never-ending thanks for the
creation of the world, for his continual providence over us,
for his love for all mankind, and for the redemption of the
world by our Savior Christ, who took upon himself our flesh,
and humbled himself even to death on the cross, that he
might make us the children of God by the power of the Holy
Spirit, and exalt us to everlasting life.
But if we are to share rightly in the celebration of those holy
Mysteries, and be nourished by that spiritual Food, we must
remember the dignity of that holy Sacrament. I therefore call
upon you to consider how Saint Paul exhorts all persons to
prepare themselves carefully before eating of that Bread and
drinking of that Cup.
For, as the benefit is great, if with penitent hearts and living
faith we receive the holy Sacrament, so is the danger great, if
we receive it improperly, not recognizing the Lord’s Body.
Judge yourselves, therefore, lest you be judged by the Lord.
316 Exhortation
Examine your lives and conduct by the rule of God's
commandments, that you may perceive wherein you have
offended in what you have done or left undone, whether in
thought, word, or deed. And acknowledge your sins before
Almighty God, with full purpose of amendment of life, being
ready to make restitution for all injuries and wrongs done by
you to others; and also being ready to forgive those who have
offended you, in order that you yourselves may be forgiven.
And then, being reconciled with one another, come to the
banquet of that most heavenly Food.
And if, in your preparation, you need help and counsel, then
go and open your grief to a discreet and understanding priest,
and confess your sins, that you may receive the benefit of
absolution, and spiritual counsel and advice; to the removal
of scruple and doubt, the assurance of pardon, and the
strengthening of your faith.
To Christ our Lord who loves us, and washed us in his own
blood, and made us a kingdom of priests to serve his God
and Father, to him be glory in the Church evermore. Through
him let us offer continually the sacrifice of praise, which is
our bounden duty and service, and, with faith in him, come
boldly before the throne of grace [and humbly confess our
sins to Almighty God].