”Not as man sees does God see”

 Today at Holy Mass in the first readings from the Prophet Samuel we hear that Samuel was asked to choose amongst the sons of Jesse who he should anoint…..It’s an interesting story…Because Jesse assumes that one of his eldest sons would be the one who would be chosen…But that was not the case….”As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought,  “Surely the LORD’s anointed is here before him.” But the LORD said to Samuel:  “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature,  because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see,  because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.” In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel,  but Samuel said to Jesse,  “The LORD has not chosen any one of these.” Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.”Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.” Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance. The LORD said, “There—anoint him, for this is the one!”…As the old saying goes…”Never judge a book by its cover”…..Our world “sizes up people” and if we are honest so do we….We ask what they do for a living…Where they went to college…Where do they live….Based upon these factors, we assume that a person is successful, intelligent and worthy of our company…..This is the reality of the world we live in but this is not God’s reality!….God could care less about all those factors I just listed…God has a different “check list” when it comes to evaluating people….Think for a moment who Jesus hand picked to be his first twelve disciples….Keep in mind…These were the men who after Jesus was to be killed would establish a global church….Now - Stop and think who Jesus picked - A bunch a uneducated fishermen!….If you had the task of establishing a global church, would you pick these twelve men?……But Jesus saw something in them that the world did not…..Many times when you read about the lives of the saints, you will see a similar stories play out….The person the world never thought about is the one who rose to the occasion and was used by God to do the impossible…..So maybe we should not be too quick to “size up” people based upon the criteria of the unbelieving world….In addition, maybe there is more to a person then their education, good looks and societal status……”The last will be first and the first will be last” - “Not as man sees does God see”

“I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life”

When I was in high school I was for the most part a very good student but at the same time a trouble maker…..I was counted among the elite of my high school class but still would get in trouble for misbehaving often….I can recall my history class very vividly to this day and all the people who were in it with me…..Looking back over almost forty years now - The people who were in that class have achieved amazing things…They are leaders of industry, doctors, lawyers, etc - By all estimations, they are very successful and wealthy people….However, while we all attended a Catholic High School, very few of the people I just noted take their Catholic faith seriously today sadly….Over the years I have spoke to many of them and some of them even have outright rejected their Catholic faith….As for me, the one in the class who was the “trouble maker”, I am the one that has taken his faith the most seriously…I have traveled the world as a missionary, written a book of Advent Reflections, co-host a Catholic radio show…..To name a few things….Let’s just say - I am an outspoken Catholic in the public square…Looking back at the elite of my high school class…There were many among my history class that were better qualified to do all the things I have done for the Church…But God choose me!….When we focus too much on the standards of the world and forget that God does not use those standards when he evaluates who is “up to the task” to be a disciple - When we fall into this trap set for us by the devil, we can give up following the Lord before we start! - If that is how you feel - Discouraged because you are not at the “top of the class” remember these words - “God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called”……You just may be surprised if you look deep within yourself and find that God is calling you to a task that no one else can do but you!…..If God can use uneducated fishermen surely he can use us …………“Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”

“The LORD said,“There—anoint him, for this is the one!” Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David”

Today at Mass we hear in the first reading something our society forgets…”Man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart”……We are way to quick to “write off people” whom we think can do nothing for God….We all do this sadly, both in the Church and outside the Church….But God knowing this usually surprises us and more times then not, God chooses the ones we reject to teach us something very important - “Not as man sees does God see”…To put a finer point on this reflection, I want to call to the readers attention the words of Mother Teresa…This is what she said on this subject….“At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in”…..Maybe it’s time that we change how we “size up” people because in the end what the world deems important means very little to God….If we are fortunately enough to enter the Kingdom of God, I believe there will be many “surprises” when it comes to who enters into eternal life and who does not……So let’s make sure we are not to quick to “write people off”- Because the very person you “write off” may be at the front of the line in the only line that matters - The line into heaven………..As Mother Teresa also would say to her sisters….”The poor will defend me before God when I am about to be judged”…………..”Not as man sees does God see”…..JMJ