Quick to Judge

With whom do you associate?  With whom do you hang?

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?" When Jesus heard this, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." - Mark 2:16-17

Today's Gospel reading talks to the judgments we make about others.

The Pharisees judge those Jesus associates with and in doing so, they judge Jesus as well.  But Jesus seems to play into their prejudices by acknowledging that he is here for the sinners and not the righteous.  And in saying that, we may miss the message.

Is Jesus talking about what he is called to do, or is he expecting the same for us as well?

Surely we don't see ourselves as physicians called to be among the sick, but we are called to love one another and to help one another.  In a way, he is saying we should be out there among those we would be quick to judge.

We may not be able to change a life, but we can be there for anyone who wants to change.

I heard a story last night about a police officer who worked hard to win the trust of a young woman who did not see herself as a victim, though she was abused by a pimp who kept her working as a prostitute for years.

The woman had no respect for cops, and so she kept running away when caught.  But the officer continued to make inroads, showing her he cared, showing her he had a heart.

In time, she turned around and saw the life she was leading was damaging her, and she sought his help to get out.

We see someone doing what we could never see ourselves do and we are quick to judge them.  But perhaps we encounter these people for a reason.  Maybe God wants us to do something to overcome our prejudices and be instruments of healing, not just for them, but for us also.

I think that is what Jesus was telling the Pharisees.

We are here for each other, not to judge, but to aid.  We cannot help someone when we are busy judging them, can we?

More to come...