We may easily live our lives without questioning whether or not our view of the world is accurate.

 

But we can be assured that it is not, starting with any assumptions we might have that other people view and approach the world like we do. 

 

Perhaps we have long chuckled at those who are always optimistic, saying they wear “rose-colored glasses.” Maybe the overly-pessimistic types are simply people we try not to be around. 

 

But there are world views that are skewed far beyond the optimists and pessimists — far away from the basic Judeo-Christian way of looking at things. Obviously these include terrorists and those who support them along with criminals of all kinds. By and large, we persons in the pews mistakenly think we can spot the shady characters who would prey on others instead of pray for others.

 

But over time it may dawn on us that predators include some of our church pew neighbors who have not embraced what is taught in the Gospels and in the eucharistic sacrifice.

 

We rub elbows with people who don’t support — or even actively work against — their parish or diocese or the larger Church. We sit next to people who manipulate and abuse their spouses, children, coworkers, friends — and anyone else who is under their influence and who either don’t realize the source of the harm that comes their way or who have come to believe they just have to tolerate it. 

 

Some of our pew-mates are those who see harmful industries as good business opportunities, and others simply don’t give anything of themselves to help make the world a better place.

 

The sudden anti-life tidal wave that is sweeping across our State and country is a legislative result of people so rooted in their self interests that they don’t care about babies in the womb (and increasingly those who have been born) or older, sickly and otherwise-challenged people. That wave is mostly composed of so-called respectible and successful people, including several who claim to be Catholic.

 

Perhaps we are shocked at these discoveries — or perhaps we’ve gone beyond that into a kind of depressed resignation that we indeed must be more wary of our world in general and those we know personally. It takes time to become practiced in not allowing appearances to deceive us.

 

Jesus cautions his disciples not to look at the world with eyes impressed by social status or wealth or beauty or charm and flattery. He complimented Nathanael as a person without guile — someone who was genuinely faithful, not just pretending.

 

God is the one — the only one — who sees the world as it truly is. He knows each person’s heart, intentions, maneuverings and needs. That is bad news for everyone who is duplicitous and who follows the evil crowds with selfish motives.

 

But God’s great knowledge of all things human is good news for those of us who are trying to follow Jesus. We can trust that He will be with us, helping us in our quest to live in faith, hope and love.

 

We don’t have to be perfect; we just have to try to run after Him with whatever strength we have. If we are smart enough to accept His many supportive gifts on that path — His sacraments, His biblical teachings, His tried-and-true saints — we will make good progress quickly.

 

Turning to Jesus in our depressed resignation can help us avoid temptations to give up our spiritual efforts and become like those who have put their trust in worldly success. The Holy Spirit is pleased to provide us with the wisdom and hope necessary to keep fighting the good fight through the confusion that can come when we have been misled by our limited understanding of what is going on around us.

 

And over time, Jesus will help us see ourselves, the world and our place in it from His point of view. We’ll grow in humility, but also in strength and purpose as our vision becomes more clear, more accurate and more rooted in God’s love.

 

Each of us is called to see people and things for what they are. Let us ask the One who sees clearly to help us.