Usually, people will form an opinion about us from how we present ourselves.
But besides how we behave, what we wear and how we speak, there is also another dimension.
And that is who our friends are and who we keep company with.
In the gospel, the Pharisees and scribes complained about Jesus welcoming sinners and eating with them.
In their opinion, the one who welcomes sinners and eats with them would also be another sinner.
After all, birds of a feather flock together.
But for the tax collectors and sinners, they saw Jesus as a compassionate teacher and they could learn something about life and hence they were seeking His company.
The 1st reading tells us that we should never pass judgement on a brother or treat him with contempt.
The life and death of each of us has its influence on others, and there is always something that we can learn for each other.
Let us speak in a way that others will like to listen to us, and let us also listen in a way that others will like to speak to us.