The day was gorgeous! Blue skies were adorned with fluffy clouds and a gentle breeze. As my husband and I walked along the sunny nature trail, I smiled at the couple passing us. The man never looked, but the well-dressed woman gave me a quick glance over and looked away with a sour expression. After the initial sting of hurt, I was annoyed. What the heck was her problem? Was she offended to see a Hispanic woman holding hands with a white guy? Was it my inexpensive Old Navy outfit? My plus-size physique? Why was she judging me?!
I eventually shrugged it off and took solace in the fact that I wasn’t like her—passing judgment on other people. But as I thought about it, my conscience chided me with the words in the today's reading, “Show no partiality as you hold the faith of Our Lord Jesus Christ” (James 2:1).
There have been many times when I looked at someone and sized them up, eyeing the statements on their slogan hat. I may have been friendly, but my mind quickly formed an opinion about them, and I am not proud of that.
It makes me think about Saint Mother Teresa whose feast day we celebrate today. She was able to look at a person and see their heart and how Christ dwelt within them. She was able to see the God-given dignity of people who were shunned and cast off by others. She changed the lives of countless people—those who felt the loving touch of her motherly hand and those who witnessed her selfless example.
I want that same burning love for Christ . . . a love that curbs my tendency to judge others and instead allows me to see them as children of God. A love that prompts me to help someone in need, rather than my own self-interest.
Let’s honestly look at our hearts and examine our prejudice or wrongful judgment of others. What is a concrete way we can live Mother Teresa’s example and bring love and care to an ignored person today?
LOVING GOD, LOVING OTHERS
A NEW WORKSHOP
COME BACK TO FIRST LOVE
