Click here for today’s Scripture readings.

Jeremiah 26:1-9
Matthew 13:54-58

Remember your Mother, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” and other wise sayings?  Was she right about all of them?  All the time?

Jesus appeared very openly and plainly in the presence of the people of his native place, and this time they would have been wise to “judge the book by its cover.  These people kind of ignored the cover of this book, ignored the authenticity of Jesus’ demeanor, his facial expressions, his eyes.  This Gospel doesn’t tell us the motive of the townspeople, but it does tell us that chose to judge Jesus by what and who they expected him to be,  “Is not he the carpenter’s son … Where did he get all this?”   Over-trusting in what they knew about his earthly origins, they passed up the truth of who he was, “A prophet is not without honor except …”

Might we ever behave this way?  Undoubtedly. We probably make mistakes on both sides – the prejudices of “reading books by their covers” and the prejudices of not letting people be who they really are because we knew them when – or do we just think we did?  Another possibility is that we ourselves are the ones who have suffered being put in a box and unwelcomed because people think they know who we are.  In this way we know the suffering.  Our own compassion is aroused.

Among the many messages and blessings, the Gospel writer offers us in today’s story is the ever-present challenge to abandon prejudice. And that’s a challenge!  Let us rather find joy in the newness and uniqueness of each person in each situation. Let us make all things new.  Let us pray and work to welcome the ordinary with openness and freedom and to be faithful to the freshness of each new day.  A smile always helps in these situations.

Sister Mary Clark, SC is a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill, who lives at Elizabeth Seton Convent in Pittsburgh, PA

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