Love and acceptance

READING: 2 Thessalonians 3:10b-13

Anyone who would not work should not eat. We hear that some of you are unruly, not keeping busy but acting like busy-bodies. We enjoin all such, and we urge them strongly in the Lord Jesus Christ, to earn the food they eat by working quietly. You must never grow weary of doing what is right, brothers.

Sometimes it becomes hard to keep our minds on our own lives. Society breeds thinking about others. Just recently, the Steven Tyler act was before the state court in Hawaii. The lead singer of Aerosmith started the petition for this law that would bear his name. He claims that paparazzi, the media, and news services cross the line at points when covering the lives of celebrities. 

I used to think that if you were a celebrity, you were in the fish bowl and that was the price to pay. But having become somewhat in a small spotlight by being 'the deacon' I see things a bit differently. People expect different behavior. Behavior that they feel is correct. And they hold you to their standards. Again, society has changed to make us want to know if those presumed standards are being met. Many years ago, Babe Ruth was an icon of American sports. In reality he dran all the time and constantly chased (and caught) women. The media of the time knew this, but never printed it for fear of ruining the reputation. Today, that news would be all over the media.

Why are we concerned with others and their lives? If we live our own life as good, catholic Christians , how others live, what others believe, what others may do should mean nothing to us. We should love and accept them and pray for them. Yet we delve into. Their lives because we need to know. Remember that the Father who knows all will judge. Love and guide and leave the judging to God, lest we be judged in the same way when we stand before His throne.

Busy-bodies? There is no room. Sure we enjoy a good story, a chuckle, at another's expense, but this should never change our view of who the person is. A creation in God's image whose only real desire is to be loved and accepted. Keep busy with this, God's work.