| In a recent conversation with other Norbertine priests, one of them, a psychologist, referred to the concept of “attribution error” as key to understanding log-jammed relationships. The term refers to a person’s failing to pay sufficient attention to situational factors and other internal factors which have a bearing on another person’s behavior. Simply put, committing this error, we presume we can judge another based only on their behavior and our observation. Because we know ‘what they did’, we presume to know ‘why they did it’.
But the ‘best’ of all organized religion and particularly the Gospel teaching of Jesus challenges this erroneous assumption repeatedly in the New Testament scriptures.
And while mercy is among the most cherished and sought after blessings of God, it is also perhaps the most daunting of Gospel challenges – that “the gift we have received we must give as a gift” (Matthew 10:8), holding back judgment as we forgive another. Jesus insisted that we offer this forgiveness to each other “seventy times seven times” in the Gospel passage used at masses on “9/11” (Matthew 18:22).
Of course every person struggles to let go of grudges, to forgive old hurts, to be reconciled with family, neighbor, co-workers and others. And the credibility of all organized religion has been so deeply diminished by hostility between believers. Venomous words and violent acts of terrorism, religious wars - an oxymoron, really - whether the Crusades or jihad, between adherents of various world religions, only give folks grounds to walk away from it all.
On the flip side though, unity, harmony, mercy, reconciliation and forgiveness are perhaps the most convincing arguments and compelling proof that God exists and the churches have found something real and precious!
Pope John Paul II in designating the 2nd Sunday of Easter to be “Divine Mercy Sunday” affirms that forgiveness is proof positive of God’s power to raise the dead! The opening prayer for Sunday Mass on September 25th declares: “O God you have revealed the beauty of your power through your constant forgiveness of our sins!” Our hymn sings out: “They’ll know we are Christians by our love”; Jesus prays at the Last Supper “that they all may be one - so that the world may believe!” (John 17:21)
Not only in our personal lives and networks of relationships, but in our lives together – in the church, religious communities and in our local, national and international networks, the call for such unity and mercy is ever present.
But forgetting St Paul’s haunting question, “Who are you to judge another?” (Romans 14:10) we’re quick to condemn and eager to exact punishment on each other. Republicans and Democrats, both sides of the Labor Union issues in our state this year, pundits and politicians in droves only widen the gap between and among us and foster deep estrangements by quick and arrogant judgments. And certainly, the 10th anniversary of the “9/11” terrorist attacks here in the United States poses the challenge of reconciliation as a necessary ingredient of peace in a poignant and painful way!
This is where “attribution error” and a “faith perspective” can dove-tail. Of course we can observe behavior; we can ask clarifying questions and offer honest feedback and response; but we cannot assume that we know the motivations, intentions and other internal factors behind any other person’s behavior.
This humble awareness can open the way for dialogue; it can further inform the conversation; it can keep folks talking, and maybe even pave the way for forgiveness – if we stay with it!
The great 20th century spiritual writer, Thomas Merton, defined God as “mercy, within mercy, within mercy”. The anonymous sage observed that “If all were known, all would be forgiven.”
Perhaps our slowing down on attributing our presumed motives to other persons’ actions is the necessary step which empowers that daunting yet essential “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18) to go forward – between spouses and friends, among neighbors, races, churches, religions and the nations and cultures of the human family – created in God’s “image and likeness” (Genesis 1:27), one and all.
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