Twelfth Monday of Ordinary Time

Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.

It can be tempting to point out the flaws and faults of others. It is often easier to see their sins because we are distanced from them. However, just because we see someone sinning, doesn’t give us the right to judge. We shouldn’t condone the sin, but we shouldn’t condemn the sinner. God is the judge who will have the final say because He knows the hearts of His children better than anyone else. So instead of focusing on other people’s problems, we should focus on our own. We are not sinless and we should constantly remind ourselves of this fact. Perhaps with time and practice we will be able to see the wooden beams in our eyes and notice our moral blind spots. Then, we will be in a better position to advise our brothers and sisters because we shall do so out of love and mercy and not out of false pride.

What are the sins that blind us to our own faults? How can we see ourselves more clearly? What can we do to remove these sins from our lives?

O Lord, remove the beam of sin from our eyes so that we can see others as you want us to see them.

Amen.