Look to the heart

Readings for Tuesday January 19, 2010

First Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89
Gospel: Mark 2:23-28


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 he sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.” (1 Sam 16:7)

How many times do we judge someone based on their shoes, their clothes, their weight, or any of their physical features? Sure, we may not go around gossiping about that person, but how many times do we do this in our mind? Samuel was caught in this same mistake of judging by physical appearance when looking to anoint the new king of Israel. The Lord reminded Samuel that it is not what's outside that is important, but rather it is what's inside the counts. Today we are reminded that the Lord is not concerned with how physically good looking we are or if we wear the latest fashions. The Lord sees each of us as His beautiful children, and He looks at the most important thing ... the heart. For it is what is in our hearts that is important, is it full of love for God and neighbor, or is it full of the world and of sin?

If the Lord finds it important to look to the heart, shouldn't we do the same?

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you bless us with and for always being our shelter and refuge. Help us to see others as you see us, help us to not judge by physical appearances but rather by the heart by which you judge. Lord, fill our hearts with your love so that we may be the men and women that you created us to be in this world. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.