Fluffy sheep and cute baby goats, part 2

Matthew's version of the Savior is pretty clear about judgement:  "Judge not."  (7:1)

Here Jesus is once again giving us freedom.  Judgement of others and of ourselves can be a burden.  It may require us to do emotional labor.  By telling us to avoid a particular kind of judgement, JC frees us from emotional labor.

Lambs playing football from The Argus

But Paul calls on us to be aware of ourselves, to test our faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5).  This, I think, is discernment, not judgement.  

I don't like the part of me that still judges others.  When I hear that same kind of judgement out of the mouths of those same others, I bridle in such a way that one must assume a nerve has been hit.  

So I am a work in progress. Sometimes feeling sheepish.  Wondering if I'll ever feel goatish again.  (Reminding me of the great play, The Goat, or, Who is Sylvia?)

And today I really miss him.  It's Superbowl  Sunday and the house is quiet until I start livestreaming the movie Dear White People as our February (Black History Month) Second Sunday Cinema selection.  This was a special day every year when I especially valued not being married to someone who enjoyed spectator sports even as the rest of the country watched the ritual.

Side note:  one of the first academic articles in cultural studies I read was about the Super Bowl as national ritual.  Can't remember the writer or the title, sadly.  But I'm sure it's out there somewhere among the dozens of "Buy Your Super Bowl essay" sites.  Just google "cultural studies" "Super Bowl".