Birth Matters

Have you ever judged someone based on where they are from?

Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, 'Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?' They replied, 'Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.' - John 7:50-52

In today's Gospel reading, Nicodemus brings to light the intent of the Pharisees to take matters of the law into their own hands, ignoring the process they would normally follow when dealing with the accused.

In response to his reminder, he discovers just how narrow-minded and prejudiced they were.

If we believe we are right, we can ignore the rules and feel that is justified, can't we?

The Pharisees reject the idea that Jesus could be the Messiah, because none of the prophesies point to Galilee as the birthplace of the anointed one.  He was supposed to come from Bethlehem, the City of David.

Is their reasoning truly based on the prophesies, or are they using them as a rationalization of their actions?

That is the same question we need to ask ourselves when we are so convinced that we are right and others are wrong.  We can come up with all sorts of justifications to support our position, but it could be we are just trying to convince ourselves there is no need to look any further.

Circumstances dictate, and little else is required.

Prejudice lives in this world.  It thrives on snap judgments and justifications.  In Jesus' case, it was a matter of birth.  Where he came from mattered, and even to this day, we tend to follow that line of thinking.

What will it take to change our thinking?

If we can listen to this story of Jesus and walk away acting like the Pharisees with those we encounter, then perhaps nothing will change.

But if we see ourselves in the story, maybe there is hope.

More to come...