“You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first.”
Luke 6:42
Reflection
Jesus asks his disciples how a blind person could guide another blind person – both would fall into a pit. No disciple is superior to his teacher, but will be like his teacher when fully trained. He also asks them why they perceive the splinter in their brother’s eye, but do not notice the beam in their own eye. They must first remove the wooden beam from their eye to see more clearly.
We must always take care to examine ourselves interiorly before pointing out other people’s faults. Sometimes our own faults prevent us from properly making decisions, especially as it relates to others. In this way, Jesus is right to call us hypocrites.
Once we begin to improve ourselves and grow in virtue, we can help others to grow as well. All along, we can learn from Christ himself, the ultimate teacher. We will never become greater than Jesus, for he is God, but we can become like him in love and character. This is accomplished by addressing our own sin first, improving in spiritual life, and growing in love. Only then can we go out to help others grow closer to Christ, too. What beam in your eye is preventing you from following Christ more closely?
Saint of the Day
St. Cyprian: ca. AD 210 – 258
| “He cannot have God as a father who not have the Church as a mother. If whoever was outside the ark of Noah was able to escape, he too who is outside the Church escapes.” St. Cyprian |
