Examination of Conscience

Gospel: Mt 26:14-25
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032724.cfm

There is a Catholic practice called “examination of conscience.” An examination of conscience is spending some time to think more deeply about your thoughts and actions. It’s a good practice to do even if you are not Catholic or even religious for that matter. It helps us to think more deeply about our habits, our thoughts, and our actions. 

Some people will take the time to walk through the Ten Commandments and examine how their thoughts and actions have broken them. An examination of conscience can simply be asking yourself questions such as:

• What have I done recently that has negatively impacted others?

• When have I not wanted the best for someone else?

• When have I recently been jealous of someone else?

• When did I lose my temper recently?

• When have I felt shame recently?

• When have I been overly critical of myself?

• When have I been overly critical of others?

• Were there times when I was not honest with myself?

• Were there times when I was not honest with others?

• Am I truly living a life according to your principles and your actions? 

You can ponder how you’ve loved your neighbor as yourself, and when you didn’t.

Spending time to do this, helps us learn and grow. It helps us become more thoughtful about our actions, and it helps us better align our actions with our values and develop good practices.

In today’s gospel, Jesus tells the disciples that one of them will betray him. The disciples all respond with a question of uncertainty, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” I imagine that they all experienced an examination of conscience at that moment as they pondered if and how it could be them.

An examination of conscience is a type of prayer. It is a way for God to help us align our thoughts and actions with our deepest intentions. It helps us become more loving and merciful to ourselves and others.