Commentary of the Gospell

Psychiatrist Ana-Maria Rizzuto explored the origins of an individual’s private representations of God through a clinical research, the findings of which she published in her (now classic) book,  “The Birth of the Living God.” What it reveals is how we build up our ideas of God from our lived experiences, and how significant they are in facilitating or retarding our growth as human persons. One of such God-images we suffer from is that of a judge out to scrutinize our every thought, word, and action and to reward us with heaven or hell. In this context, we shouldn’t miss out what Christ tells us unequivocally: “I have come, not to condemn the world, but to save the world.” When will we let this truth sink and let Christ save us? Or, do we still secretly desire to be condemned, for we cannot forgive ourselves in our secret internal chambers of justice?