A few years ago, Cardinal O’Connor of happy memory gave a talk describing an experience he had. He was walking down the street when he noticed a large African-American man walking toward him. He began to be frightened so he crossed to the other side of the street. The man did too. He kept walking toward him. As the man approached the Cardinal was terrified. When he was right in front of him he stuck out his hand and said, “Cardinal O’Connor, I’ve always wanted to meet you.” His Eminence confessed how his prejudicial stereotyping caused him to judge the man. Jesus experienced a similar judgment in his home town. We need to see the grace of God is at work in everyone we meet.
