Friday of the First Week of Lent
Once I got very upset with a group of seminarians who presumed permissions to do something that I, as Dean of Students, had not allowed. Not only did I think I had given my directions quite explicitly, but also, I was upset that they did not ask me. Then, several days later I turned around and made a decisive call without consulting colleagues who made it quite plain that they couldn’t believe I presumed to make a call and were upset with me. All of us have the capacity to willfulness.
The Fundamental Attribution Error is what psychologists call the dichotomy between how we treat ourselves versus others. We tend to presume others do bad or thoughtless things because they are evil or lazy. When we miss the mark, we tend to blame it on circumstances – I was stressed, these people never help me, or I had no time to do what I would ordinarily be capable of doing.
The Attribution Error is what we seem to do to God, too. If God gives time for us to return to him, it goes unacknowledged; when we are justly judged, we get upset, thinking we had too little time or opportunities. Again and again, Jesus reminds us to identify with our brokenness instead of our righteousness. When God’s love meets us in these instances, it turns to mercy. The more we remember and experience this steadfast love and patience, the more we should go out of our way to reconcile with our neighbors.
Lent provides us the chance to grow in greater awareness of our own growth in showing love. We always have enough actual grace available to do what seems impossible. How can you overcome the Attribution Error and participate in divine mercy?
Reflection by Fr. Pachomius Meade, OSB
Posted in Articles for Lent, Daily Reflections