PREJUDICE
“Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to consume them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. – Luke 9:54-55
After the death of King Solomon, the kingdom of Israel was split into
two parts, Judah in the south, and Samaria in the north. The two
kingdoms were often in disagreement. The northern kings loved their
pagan idols and were constantly at odds with Jerusalem. When the
Assyrians conquered Samaria, some Samaritans remained in their homeland
and intermarried with the pagan settlers. When the Babylonians allowed
the Judeans to return to their homeland, some sources say that the
Samaritans offered to help rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, but were
rudely refused because of their pagan impurity. Other sources say the
Samaritans
were the ones who refused to help their brothers of Judah to rebuild.
Sadly, disagreements, wars, differences in worship, and miscommunication
resulted in the simmering hatred that divided the people of Israel that
were once brothers.
Can you see similarities between the first century Jewish-Samaritan
problem and cultural and religious conflicts we face today in our
family, churches, community, country and nations? Can you hear Jesus
rebuking you? Meann Tee (meanntytee@yahoo.com)
Reflection: What are your prejudices? How is this preventing you from receiving blessings and from being a channel of blessings to others?
Father,
please remove my prejudices. Help me accept and love people who may
have different beliefs, values and convictions to promote true and lasting peace and unity. Amen.
St. Vincent de Paul, priest, pray for us.
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