Reflection on 1Cor 11:31-32

For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord,

that we may not be condemned with the world.

These words in Scripture are related to receiving the Lord’s Body and Blood in Holy Communion, but they also have a deep meaning as such. We need true self-criticism not only when eating of the table of the Lord, but during the day we also need to stand in God’s light and truly call our sin sin, laziness laziness, envy envy and touchiness touchiness. The essential thing in the relationship to God is truthfulness, and truthfulness is connected with the humility and courage to admit our sin, to admit that we were deceived or not vigilant. Our ego will always find an excuse, a priori rejecting the objective truth that convicts us. True self-criticism convicts our blind selfishness of an unwillingness to accept the truth and shows our limitations, namely that we are not gods but mere creatures. We know neither the day nor the hour when our earthly pilgrimage comes to its end. Our old self refuses to reckon with the fundamental truths, such as death, God’s judgment, eternal reward or punishment. It loves darkness. It hates light. The problem is that we have to deny ourselves, our spiritual blindness or pride, and face the truth, see ourselves as we are. Only then can we obtain forgiveness of sins and deliverance from the bondage of sin that Christ gives us.

If we judge ourselves, we will no be judged. If we judge ourselves and stand in spirit by the cross of Christ, covered by the power of His blood, the penalty of our sin is paid by the death of Jesus on the cross. But even if we have our sins cleansed by the power of Christ’s blood, there is still the poisoned root within us and certain wounds, or vices, caused by our sin. The process of healing the soul involves suffering. We are to accept it wholeheartedly, for it is written: “When we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”

The spirit of this world has a strong influence on us nowadays, especially through computers, smartphones, the internet, mass media and people who feed on them spiritually and we are somehow obliged to come into contact with them in our daily lives. But the Word of God says that the world will be condemned. By the world is not meant beautiful nature, but a way of life that is based only on the perception of temporary earthly realities and the lowly human passions and vanities. The spirit of the world hates the truth. It is a system behind which there is really the spiritual power of lies. That is why Scripture urges us not to love the world. The Apostle John says: “For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.” (1Jn 2:16) And the victory over the world is our faith. But it is directly related to the degree of our self-criticism, that is, humility or truth.

For two weeks, we will repeat this Bible verse: “If we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.” Let us find some time daily to devote a few moments to judging ourselves and confessing our faults and sins both to ourselves and to God. We will then be more and more sensitive to God’s light and in it also to the essence, namely the meaning of our life. It consists in believing in God and striving to keep His commandments, thus saving our souls for eternity.

Download: Reflection on 1Cor 11:31-32