During the month of September our second reading comes from the Letter of St. James. It is one of the shorter books of the New Testament but it contains some very pointed commentary about how the early Christians were expected to behave. These words ring true some 2000 years later.
In today’s passage, we are reminded to not make distinctions based on appearance. We probably recall the old adage, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” But how often do we make judgments based on appearance? We give preferential treatment to those whom we consider more deserving of our consideration which is often based on looks, popularity, status, or wealth.
James cautions us not to be too hasty in our judgments but rather to treat everyone as Christ. Jesus also challenges us to see and hear as God sees and hears. The word “ephphatha” is also spoken to us that not only our eyes and ears may be open but more importantly our hearts may be open to experiencing the world as God views it.
