2nd August 2019

Peter Julian Eymard

DON’T JUDGE A MAN BY HIS RELATIVES

“Isn’t this the carpenter’s Son? Isn’t Mary known to be His mother and James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas His brothers? Aren’t His sisters our neighbors? Where did He get all this?” —Matthew 13:55-56

The book of Leviticus may appear to be a mere collection of rules concerning sacrifices, feasts and festivals, the priesthood and the life of the people. However, a studied reading reveals that following it helped the Israelites better understand that their relationship with God was meant to be celebrated and not feared! The rules laid down for the celebration of their feasts brought them together as a community in thanksgiving and reverence to God. It taught them to love and respect one another and the authority of God.

The Gospel, on the other hand, shows us how the people of His very own hometown refused to respect the authority of Jesus, because they couldn’t accept that an ordinary carpenter could be their Messiah! Even though they were in the presence of God Himself, they failed to recognise Him.

Jesus’ hometown folk rejected Him because they judged Him based on his relatives. People make the same mistake to the present day. Gandhi, for example, was very impressed by Jesus, but never became a Christian because he was unimpressed with Jesus’ relatives, that is, us, Jesus’ brothers and sisters. Many people say they quit the Church because of the hypocrites in it. They too reject Jesus because of His so-called followers. How many people turn their backs on Jesus because they were offended by a pastor or some other person in their church?

Judge Jesus based on His crucifixion and Resurrection for love of you. Judge Jesus based on His nail-scarred hands and thorn-crowned head. Judge Jesus for Himself and not for us, His relatives.

Judge yourself for any sins by which you deface and obscure the image of Jesus in your life. Judge yourself for not fully responding to His crucified and risen love, for Jesus will judge you on Judgment Day.

Today, we celebrate a saint – Peter Julian Eymard – who understood the need to spend time in the presence of God, which is why he founded the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (better known here as the ‘Blessed Sacrament Fathers’). The Congregation grew to foster a new way of life, one completely shaped by the Eucharist celebrated, contemplated, and lived in communion.