Romans 14:7-12 / Luke 18:1-10
In life, we see and hear a lot of things about situations and about persons.
Some of the things that we see and hear may be factual or they may be just opinions and interpretations.
Even if what we see and hear are factual, it does not mean that it is the truth.
Because not all facts tell the truth.
In the gospel, the Pharisees and the scribes saw the tax collectors and sinners seeking the company of Jesus to hear what He had to say.
What the Pharisees and scribes saw was a fact, and their interpretation was that Jesus welcomes sinners and even eats with them.
That interpretation formed their conclusion that Jesus was also a sinner, just like those tax collectors and sinners.
And here is where Jesus connected the fact to the truth, and that is the tax collectors and sinners were seeking repentance and conversion.
They came to Jesus to look for hope in order to change their lives.
The 1st reading also teaches us that we should never pass judgement on another or treat him with contempt.
Because we may know all the facts, but we may not know what is the truth of the facts.
The fundamental truth of our faith is that Jesus is our Saviour.
Let us ask Him for forgiveness and healing and we will come to know the truth of life.