Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“You are not swayed by appearances.”

People who had met Jesus knew he was an accurate reader of characters and personalities.

That knowledge is something I am still learning to improve. I know some people are good actors  - and only time reveals their true colours. When I was young, appearances influenced my take on people. Physical beauty was attractive. Nowadays, I look at behaviour and listen to the thoughts, interests and values they express before making up my mind about anyone.

Actions speak louder than words. I look for patterns in behaviour over time rather than isolated incidents. Consistent intelligence, honesty, kindness, and empathy indicate a worthy character.

As Thomas Babington, 1st Baron Macaulay (1800 –  1859, British historian, poet and politician) said, "The measure of a person’s real character is what they would do if they knew they would never be found out." 

I remember that old  quote, “Never judge a book by its cover”.

If you come to my Book Launch on the 29th, you will meet over 70 of my friends: a great mix of characters, each of which I have found attractive. They have one thing in common. They like me. Most have good eyesight, so I do not think they are swayed by my appearances.

We are all a bit of a mystery. God alone knows me fully as I am, warts and all. God alone knows you as you fully are – and loves you – and me, as I really am. So, though not to scare people, I will not broadcast the facts, I can and do admit – to myself - how I really am. Thank God.