Fourth of Year B - Judging Others
February 2009
At our R.C.I.A. meeting a couple of weeks ago we were discussing why so many people who met Jesus of Nazareth, were very impressed and found him attractive.
Various points of view were put and discussed.
I would like to put to you today one thing Jesus of Nazareth must have had, which, to my mind, must have hugely impressed those who met him.
Jesus of Nazareth must have been totally non-judgemental towards everyone he met, at least to the extent, that everyone felt accepted and welcomed, as they were.
Something I do all the time myself, and which I find off-putting and annoying in others, is pre-judging persons and events, often on very flimsy or non existent evidence.
We read of Jesus; ‘And as he sat at dinner in Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
These people would not be sitting at table and chatting freely with Jesus unless they felt at ease and totally accepted.
That is why coming home is so attractive and pleasant. At home all our faults, failings and good points are well known, but that does not interfere with our being totally accepted and welcomed.
One knows instinctively if one is being judged or is pre-judged by someone you meet.
It is not conducive to falling on each others necks and bonding.
So this is an aspect of Jesus of Nazareth that I could well ponder and try to emulate.