Daily Reflection

Daily Reflection Archives

March 3

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Reflection

There is a mean-spiritedness about raising suspicion. It differs from the realistic caution that is appropriate in certain situations. Suspicion causes us to view a person or situation negatively with little evidence and no proof of untrustworthy behavior. It is a form of attitudinal violence which robs us of our peace of mind and causes strains without sufficient cause. Jesus said “the truth will set you free”. To accept and believe only facts that have been verified about people or situations is to live in reality. Be the facts positive or negative, their accuracy brings us a certain stability and integrity. We are free because we are not controlled by worry or anxiety caused by the spread of baseless theories. We can choose our course of action, judge maturely, and act justly.

Prayer

O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me.
Psalm 43:3

Action

I will try to give to others the same trust and freedom of action that I seek from them. I will not make negative judgments without cause.

Suggested Reading

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
Matthew 7:3

Judge not that you may not be judged.
Matthew 7:1

No one heals himself by wounding another.
St. Ambrose

If you are desirous of practicing the beautiful virtue of charity, strive in the first place to reject every rash judgment, distrust, and unfounded suspicion of your neighbor.
St. Alphonsus

Our souls may lose their peace and even disturb other people’s, if we are always criticizing trivial actions – which often are not real defects at all, but we construe them wrongly through our ignorance of their motives.
 Saint Teresa of Avila

Suspicion is far more apt to be wrong than right; oftener unjust than just. It is no friend to virtue, and always an enemy to happiness.
Hosea Ballou

The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is.
Winston Churchill  

The moment there is suspicion about a person’s motives, everything he does becomes tainted.
Mahatma Gandhi

Suspicion is most often useless pain.
Samuel Johnson

Allow me to assure you, that suspicion and jealousy never did help any man in any situation.
Abraham Lincoln

When suspicion and hostility is allowed to fester, it can erupt into unrest.
 Loretta Lynch