Monday, September 09, 2019

Reflection for September 13, Friday; Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor: Luke 6:39-42


Gospel: Luke 6:39-42
Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? 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.”
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Reflection:
In courtroom litigation before a judge gives his verdict or judgment he sees to it that every witness from the opposing sides are heard. This assures that whatever decision that the judge would give, is appropriate and based on the facts of the case.

Do we not oftentimes act as judge in our own sphere of environment? For example, a father or a mother acts as a judge when he/she gives orders to their children not to do this and that.  They also act as judge when they admonish and give disciplinary actions to their children. 

But in giving judgment or orders, do we see to it that we are worthy to give judgment?   If we are worthy of the judgment that we give then that is very good for our orders would be followed. But what if we are not good role models? Here the problem lies, for we are not worthy to give judgment.

The gospel tells us that before you give judgment to anyone you must see to it first that you have the moral authority and ascendancy to give that judgment. And how would you do this? You always have to have a self-reflection about yourself, such as, am I a good role model? Do I follow what I tell others to do? Well and good if you are a good role model and if you lead by example.

But what if you are not?  Then, the judgment or order that you give will simply not be heard it will simply fall on deaf ears. Therefore you have to be a good role model. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

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