Episode 12 -- Spiritual Combat c8 -- Obstacles and Aid to Forming Correct Judgments

What keeps us from and what aids us in forming correct judgments about good and evil?

What does our understanding/intellect need? Truth. From what does it need to be freed? Ignorance.

What will take away our ignorance about how to live correctly?

1. Prayer for light to know the truth

2. Thinking a lot! Regular, serious, and diligent thinking to distinguish good from evil.

What is an intellectual judgment?

The answer to the question: is this thing that I want to do really good?

A judgment can be in three forms:

1. Yes it is good to do!

2. No, it is not good!

3. Maybe, it is good; I need advice.

Who is a model for forming good judgments? St Joseph.

-- “As he was considering these thing, behold an angel appeared to him in a dream. The angels said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Joseph, son of David, to take Mary as your wife. For this child is conceived of the Holy Spirit.’ You shall call him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Joseph rose from sleep and did as the angel commanded him. He took Mary, his wife” (Matthew 1:20-21).

-- We cannot base our judgments about good and evil on mere appearances, what is popular in the world, or what our senses really like.

-- We have to base them on the truth and on how the Holy Spirit directs us and the wisdom of those who are sent to us from God.

May St Joseph help each of us to grow in knowledge of the truth!

In this episode, we will read about a great obstacle to forming correct judgments: our own enthusiasms and strong desires. Before we can think properly, our wants get in the way! Scupoli gives advice on how to avoid this mistake.