By Shanborlang Mawrie, CSC –
Readings: 1 Jn 4: 19-5:4; Lk 4: 14-22
‘Is he not the son of Joseph?’ Does this question of the people of Nazareth not say anything to our hearts? This is the question that we experience directly or indirectly, in our day-to-day lives from our own families, friends and relatives who are very close to us, in our own places when we achieve something in life. As we see in the life of Jesus, his own people were amazed when they saw him performing miracles and heard his words of wisdom. They started doubting his capabilities and thus failed in believing in him.
The prejudiced mind of his people shaded their eyes from seeing the goodness in Jesus. Instead of appreciating and focusing on the goodness of Jesus’ words and actions, they diverted themselves by judging his family and background. The gospel challenges us to open our eyes to see the good in our fellow beings by appreciating and encouraging their actions.
But the question of the gospel can result in one of two responses. In one response, it is as though we want to know more about the person and confirm his words and deeds. The other response is to put the person down by judging his family background. What stance will I take in such instances? As human beings, many times we are moved by our prejudices in which we fail to see goodness in others. We criticize and put each other down. Let us remember that a prejudiced mind blocks us from loving our fellow beings and learning from them.
An unprejudiced mind will open the door of our beings to love and accept others as they are. This will open a new relationship and help to promote greater quality of life, because God works through each one of us in different ways which we cannot easily understand.