Reflection for September 11 Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: 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:

Before a judge gives a verdict or judgment, the judge sees to it that every witness from both opposing sides is heard. This assures us that whatever decision the judge makes is appropriate and based on the facts of the case.

Do we not oftentimes act as judges within our own sphere of influence? For example, as fathers and mothers, we sometimes act as judges when we give orders to our children not to do this or that. We also exercise authority when we admonish them and impose disciplinary actions.

But before we judge or correct others, do we first examine ourselves? Are we worthy of the judgment we give? If we are good role models, then our words will have greater weight, and our children and those entrusted to our care will be more likely to listen to us. But what happens when our actions do not correspond with what we teach?

The Gospel reminds us that before we give judgment to anyone, we must first examine our own lives. We need to ask ourselves: Do we have the moral authority and credibility to correct others? Are we good role models? Do we practice what we tell others to do?

It is easy to tell others what they should do. It is easy to point out their mistakes and shortcomings. But it is much more difficult to look honestly into our own hearts and acknowledge our own weaknesses. Sometimes, we may demand goodness from others while failing to practice the same goodness in our own lives.

This is where the Lord invites us to humility. Before we remove the speck from another person's eye, we must first be willing to look at what is in our own eyes. Our authority becomes meaningful when it is accompanied by humility, integrity, and a life that bears witness to what we teach.

If we want our children, family members, friends, coworkers, and fellow members of our community to listen to us, let us not merely speak about what is right. Let us live it. Let our actions speak together with our words. Let our lives become a quiet but powerful testimony of the values and faith we profess.

True authority does not come merely from the position we hold or from the orders we give. It comes from the credibility of a life lived with integrity. When we lead by example, we do not have to force others to listen because our lives themselves become a source of inspiration.

Let us therefore ask the Lord for the humility to examine ourselves before we judge others, the courage to acknowledge our own shortcomings, and the grace to become better examples to those entrusted to our care.

Before we point our finger at someone else's weakness, are we willing to let God point His finger at the areas of our own lives that still need to be changed? And if our children, family, and those around us followed not what we say but what we do, would our lives truly lead them closer to God?—Marino J. Dasmarinas