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."
Sermon
My brothers and sisters in Christ, today's Gospel passage presents us with a challenging message from Jesus. He asks us, "Can a blind person guide a blind person?" The answer is clear: no. When we are blind to our own faults and weaknesses, we cannot lead others.
Jesus is highlighting the importance of self-awareness and humility. We must recognize our own limitations and shortcomings before we can help others. The disciple is not superior to the teacher, but rather, the disciple should strive to be like the teacher.
But often, we are quick to notice the faults of others while ignoring our own. We see the splinter in our brother's eye, but we do not perceive the wooden beam in our own eye. This is hypocrisy.
Jesus is calling us to introspection and self-reflection. Before we try to correct others, we must first correct ourselves. We must remove the wooden beam from our own eye before we can see clearly to remove the splinter in our brother's eye.
May we be inspired by Jesus' words to examine our own lives and seek humility. May we recognize our own faults and weaknesses, and seek to correct them. Only then can we truly help others.
Prayer
Let us pray: + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Almighty, merciful, and loving God, we come before you, humbled by Jesus' words. We recognize our own blindness and limitations, and we ask for the grace to see ourselves as we truly are.
Forgive us for our hypocrisy, for noticing the faults of others while ignoring our own. Help us to remove the wooden beam from our own eye, that we may see clearly to correct our own faults and weaknesses.
Give us the gift of self-awareness and humility, that we may recognize our own limitations and shortcomings. Help us to strive to be like our Teacher, Jesus, and to follow his example of humility and compassion.
We pray for the courage to examine our own lives and seek correction and growth. May we be inspired by Jesus' words to seek introspection and self-reflection.
Help us to be gentle and compassionate with others, recognizing that we are all struggling with our own faults and weaknesses. May we seek to help others only after we have first corrected ourselves.
In Jesus' most holy name we pray, Amen.
Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,
Rev. Fr. Jhimerson Maneclang,SCJ