The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091115.cfm) reminds me that God wants us to fix ourselves first before fixing others.
In airplanes, we are told by the crew that in case of emergencies, we should first put on our oxygen mask before helping out others. This makes a lot of sense. We cannot and should not help other people put on the oxygen mask if we ourselves are not wearing it. We may teach the person the wrong way. We cannot effectively help others if we are not safe ourselves.
Correction should first be done on oneself, then others.
In the gospel, Jesus tells us to fix ourselves before helping others or pointing the mistakes of others. I believe this has two effects – first is to remind us that we too are imperfect, so we should not be feeling good on helping others or pointing out their mistakes, for we also have our own mistakes. Second is to make sure our hearts are in the proper place, that we can see clearly to help out and point out to others how they can improve.in as much as one who has problems with his own eyes cannot effectively help someone else, we cannot help out others or point out their mistakes or sins if we ourselves have grave sins we should take care of.
God is forgiving. We just need to humble ourselves and be right with him. and when we are right with him, when we have confessed and aligned ourselves with him, when our hearts are one with him, then we can effectively help out others.
May we be reminded to fix ourselves first before looking at what needs fixing in others.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another Friday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I am quick to find fault in others, because I am too ashamed or too lazy to correct my own faults. Sorry for distracting myself and focusing on others instead of focusing in myself first. help me humble myself and stay good with you. as I try this, I know you will equip me and enable me to look at others with love and help them improve their own selves. Amen.
Blessed day!
In Christ,
-g-
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Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 441
Lectionary: 441
Reading 1 1 Tm 1:1-2, 12-14
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our savior
and of Christ Jesus our hope,
to Timothy, my true child in faith:
grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord,
because he considered me trustworthy
in appointing me to the ministry.
I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man,
but I have been mercifully treated
because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief.
Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant,
along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
and of Christ Jesus our hope,
to Timothy, my true child in faith:
grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord,
because he considered me trustworthy
in appointing me to the ministry.
I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man,
but I have been mercifully treated
because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief.
Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant,
along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Responsorial Psalm PS 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 11
R. (see 5) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Alleluia See Jn 17:17b, 17a
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 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.”
“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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