Gospel: Luke 6:39-42
How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”
Every once in a while, we all become guilty of this
offense called self-righteousness. We see ourselves as being above others;
hence, we are quick to point out the offenses of our fellowmen. Why is this so?
Is it brought about by our self-serving perception that we are closer to God
than anyone else? Is it brought about by our social or economic status?
It’s all of the above and more. But the problem with
self-righteous individuals is that they see only the shortcomings of others,
not their own. They are very quick to judge the wrongs of others but blind to
their own.
The moment we judge others, we also open ourselves to
judgment. By judging them, we also invite them to judge us. If we don’t want
others to judge us, then let us stop being judgmental and abhor condemnation.
Instead of judging, why not motivate? Why not apply
gentle correction? Why not give advice? True followers of Christ are called not
to condemn but to lift up, not to wound but to heal, not to push away but to
embrace in love.
When we stop looking down on others and start looking
into our own hearts, we begin to see that we too are sinners in need of mercy.
And if God, in His boundless compassion, forgives us again and again, who are
we to withhold mercy from others?
Do we spend more time pointing out the faults of
others, or do we humbly bring our own faults before God in repentance? – Marino
J. Dasmarinas
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