Sunday, September 8, 2024

Our second reading from the letter of St. James addresses one of our very human foibles: treating those who are wealthy or powerful better than we treat an “ordinary” person. James presents it as a person with fine clothes and gold rings who gets a seat of honor, versus a person with shabby clothes that is told to stand off to the side.
 
I’ve been reflecting on why we would do that.  Could it be that we think, even unconsciously, that the wealthy or influential person has the ability to help us, whereas the other person would more likely need our help?  Could it be out of respect, in the sense that we are acknowledging the supposed skills and accomplishments of the person who is better off?  Could there be an element of being judgmental, in the sense that the one must have worked harder than the other?
 
I know that I struggle with this question.  If someone is a generous donor to the parish, my natural inclination is to make sure I am paying attention to them. The problem or challenge is that I might not have that same “natural inclination” to treat someone else the same way.  I am starting to come to realize that what I have to concentrate on is making sure I am also listening to those who don’t have that much money to give, but who have equal needs and are part of the community.  In other words, I don’t need or want to lessen my respect and attention to the influential; I want to ramp up my respect and attention to others, so that I am treating all equally.
 
St. James brings home his point by saying, “Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom…?”  There are a lot more qualities that make a person rich than fine clothes and gold rings.
 
I invite us this week to reflect on how much we are ruled by our human tendency to judge and treat people differently, according to external factors.  What matters to God is what is inside the person.
 
Church sign: Love is the absence of judgment.