“Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? …You hypocrite first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye.” These are not easy words to shallow, however, Jesus uses them not in order to humiliate, but to raise our consciousness to face our hypocrisy. So, courage! come, let’s see what’s in there for us.

Bible readings
Sirach 27: 4–7
Psalm 92: 2–3, 13–16
1 Corinthians 15: 54–58
Luke 6: 39–45

Do I shut my mouth?

“…first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye.” Some difficulty here! Does it mean I can say something about another person’s behaviour only if I have nothing to reproach myself for? But I’m not perfect, I shall never be! So, do I seal my mouth and watch the other go astray? What becomes then of my responsibility as my brother’s keeper?

Let’s see what’s behind this admonition. Jesus observes, and discovers the behaviour of the pharisees who are well known to be law abiding Jews. For that, they put themselves in good books, as morally upright, and despise those who don’t follow the law with the same rigour. Consequently, their religious talk becomes condescending, in form of a moral lesson given to poor sinner. But Jesus says, stop a minute!

True, you make good effort in observing the law, but does that mean you have no sin? He reminds them, they too have something to put in order in their own lives. Jesus is not against, we can safely say, the genuine intention to speak when we mean to correct and to help someone erring. In fact, it’s Christian. However, the manner we in which we do it can make a lot of difference. That’s why he warns: no judging others, and no bathing in puritanical pretentions.  

So, how can I help without being hypocrite?

Here we have a teaching about living in a Christian community, and probably this situation manifested itself among the early Christians. Such arrogance of exuding moral superiority over others may be found also among us today. Hence, the Gospel comes as a remedy.  

Of course, we should be concerned when one of our brothers or sisters errs -certainly we should speak about it. But the intention and the manner we do it matter a lot. I admire the way some peaceful demonstrators walk -holding each other by the shoulders as they advance together. Each person, as part of the group, is sustained by the others. Wouldn’t that be a beautiful image of journeying together as Christians?

Sometimes we sin, make mistakes and drift off the road but we shouldn’t feel abandoned. On our side are brothers and sisters who should be there, not as judges, but as companions to help us see what’s happening in our lives. They are there to bring the best out of us and enable us to carry on. If only that’s case always!

It happens, unfortunately, instead of giving a helping hand we content ourselves to be crime investigators of others; ever on the look-out for faults in order to condemn. All that we manage to achieve by such self-righteousness is humiliate those who act differently from us.  That’s why Jesus seems to be telling us, put down your binoculars, which keep you busy peeping at what’s happening miles away; look at yourself now. Perhaps, we are not better than those we condemn. That makes me think of a cock.

But what does the cock have to do with hypocrisy?

I wonder how familiar you are with a cock, but he can be quite dominating in the poultry -he really behaves like a chief. Besides, he tolerates no competition from smaller cocks who dare to challenge him. He alone has the right to crow. In his pride, and desiring to be seen and be heard, he perches himself on some platform. Indeed, don’t stars perform on the platform where everyone can see and admire them? Well, the cock does the same, though there’s something special about his stage. If only he can spare, even a second, to look down and see where his feet are resting. Then, you can understand the critic against the hypocrisy of a person who behaves like a cock. Why?  It’s because the cock would be showing off while its feet are stuck in the dung heap. Obviously, he’s not aware of the weirdness of his action.

Facing hypocrisy, look at your feet

Aren’t there things that escape our vigilance too? Hence the importance of the analogy that Jesus gives in the Gospel. Talking of a log in the eye is certainly an exaggeration, nevertheless, it serves the purpose; to awaken us from the slumber of self-righteousness which makes us ruthless judges against others. Jesus says, my dear cock, look at your feet -most likely you will find plenty reasons to be humble, and finally, you will be also less disparaging towards others.

Thank Jesus for you word that invites me to look down at my feet and see where I’m standing. Help me to understand that being a Christian is not entering a competition; it’s rather, it’s a journey of brothers and sisters who walk, hand in hand, supporting one another.

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See also:

7th Sunday C. “Love your Enemy”; Jesus, do You really mean it?

6th Sunday C. Happy are You; Your Happiness is Now!

5th Sunday C. A Call to Advance into Deep Waters

I can hear, in my imagination, someone praying in the morning: “Thank you God for this beautiful new day. I entrust it, and all my activities, to you. Clear my way by destroying my enemies who want to set traps on my path…” If this is not just my imagination, but indeed your prayer, well, perhaps it’s high time you revised your way of praying. Here Jesus is asking just the contrary: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”  Is Jesus being realistic here? What does he mean by “Love your enemies”?

Like David, I refuse to destroy; I will to do good!

 Bible readings
1 Samuel 26: 2, 7–9, 12–13, 22–23
Psalm 103: 1–4, 8, 10, 12–13
1 Corinthians 15: 45–49
Luke 6 27–38

I will not destroy him

In the first reading we see David in the position of power before his enemy Saul, as Abishai says: “God has given your enemy into your hand today; now therefore let me pin him to the ground with one stroke of the spear….”  I find the response of David to be quite revolutionary: “Do not destroy him…” He chooses to spare the life of his enemy. Such response, we can be sure, is founded on the way David looks at Saul; he sees in him more than just an enemy. And for that, he won’t destroy him. This is not just something to marvel at, but a challenge too.

When I’m face to face with that person I consider as my enemy, do I still keep the freedom of seeing in him more than the soured relationship that exists between us? Of course, David sees an anointed person in Saul. But that’s not the only way to look at persons. Firstly, it may help perhaps, to recognise in every person the dignity of a human being, independently of what they may have done. We can bring that home by citing examples probably closer to us.

We can think of persons who have shared life together as couple, for example. How sad when it happens that they can’t continue living together, for one reason or another; even worse when they forget the intimacy they shared for years and resort to stripping each other naked by words or actions that are uncharitable. In fact, they destroy the person who may be the father or the mother to their children. Isn’t that destroying an “anointed” one? It’s a natural drive within us to want to destroy whatever we perceive as enemy. Quietly, David shows us that there’s another way of behaving even when our relationships may not be friendly.  

But which enemy to love?

Talking about enemies, you perhaps scratch your head, trying to see if you have enemies at all. Well, put them into the bag of your enemies all those persons you dislike and those who annoy you, in short, all those persons with whom the relationship does work well between you. And what does it mean loving them?

It’s about being “merciful, just as your Father is merciful” But how merciful? Mathew, unlike Luke, illustrates how perfect God is: “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Mt 5:45). He does good to all and has no intention to make anyone suffer because of what they have done. God does not treat us according to our merit, but out of his mercy and compassion. That’s why the psalm invites us to give him thanks and never forget his blessings. Which blessings?

“He…forgives all your guilt,
 heals every one of your ills,
…redeems your life from the grave,
 [and]…crowns you with love and compassion.
 [He is] slow to anger and rich in mercy.
He does not treat us according to our sins
nor repays us according to our faults.”

Then, love is a decision to do good

Like David, God chooses not to destroy us. Similarly, loving our enemies is not about having good feelings about them, that would be impossible. What Jesus asks us is to do good even to those who are not in our good books. It’s acting against the urge to hit back and destroy whatever we consider as enemy.

Being Christian, we can deduce, at least according to this Sunday’s readings, is breaking the cycle of violence that makes us return a punch with a punch. It’s witnessing the Kingdom of God through words and actions in the manner that drowns violence and revenge with good. But that should begin with changing the way we look at others. Indeed, becoming a Christian is putting oneself at Jesus’ school and learn to act differently.

And so, I can ask for one grace

That I may be able to see in every person a beloved child of God, regardless of what they have done or how I feel about them. Like David, give me not to destroy anyone; before you, every person is anointed.

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See also:

6th Sunday C. Happy are You; Your Happiness is Now!

5th Sunday C. A Call to Advance into Deep Waters

4th Sunday C. Envy, Cause of War from Childhood

Both the 1^st reading and the Gospel speak about quest for happiness, a human need which is legitimate. However, we can be mistaken in the manner we seek it. While Jeremiah warns against certain tendencies, Jesus traces the ways of happiness -the beatitudes. Where do you place yourself in your search for happiness? This word is for you and me!

 

Bible readings
Jeremiah 17: 5–8
Psalm 1: 1–4, 6
1 Corinthians 15: 12–20
Luke 6: 17, 20–26

When self-interest takes over generosity

When the desire to satisfy personal interests becomes the main conductor of our life we can be sure that everything around us, that is, persons, our relations and all that we do risk being transformed into mere instruments for our use. Not only that may lead to abuse, both of persons and things, but may risk also collapsing the values that serve as backbone of our life. Faith, and all ideals that go along with it, just lose their place. What counts is no longer what is right or just but what brings gain. But, at what price?

At first sight, it may look like a boom of success leaving even some people jealous. It means, there’s also a danger of misleading others. But how reliable and how durable is that success? It’s hard to evaluate if you are bathing in it, that’s why it’s important to take a distance in order to consider things a bit more profoundly. That’s the invitation of the word of God this Sunday. Look at what’s keeping you busy; is it really what will fulfil your heart’s desire? Jeremiah put it even more challengingly!

“Cursed are those…” he says

Don’t take Jeremiah for a witch or someone with some mysterious power to call misfortune upon others. I doubt if he has that power at all, I mean, it’s not his mission. But if he says “cursed are those…” it’s because in his wisdom he discerns the end of the road certain people have taken. He’s not predicting the future in sense of having power to know what will happen tomorrow; he’s just being a prophet -a man of the moment who follows with alertness how the present unfolds. Indeed, “cursed are those…” not because someone is casting misfortune on them but rather that, in their own pursuit for happiness, they have taken a path that unfolds into an end which is disastrous.

Talking about trusting in mere mortal man, possibly Jeremiah may have seen his contemporaries, kings or other persons, who put aside the alliance with God and ingratiated themselves, for some favour, with those wielded power, military or economic. He sounds the alarm to warn them of the disaster to which they expose themselves, comparing them to the plant in the desert that may flourish but only for a short time. Here’s what he says:

“Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals
and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord. They shall be like a shrub in the desert,
and shall not see when relief comes.  They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness…”

Surely, this is about a person what has decided to turn his back on the source of life and happiness, the Lord, and to turn his face onto things that give only the illusion of happiness. Then, the curse, there you understand, is but a result of one’s own choices in life!

Who are the rich?

“But woe to you who are rich…” that’s what we find in the Gospel. But, who are the rich? Please, don’t fear to work hard; if that can improve your condition of life, and possibly even enabling you to become rich -that would be legitimate. Certainly, God wants you to be well off. The rich denounced here are not just those who have earned what they have just by working hard, but rather those who, besides pushing God off their lives, go further to use dubious means for their profit, even on the backs of others. Such injustice can’t pass unnoticed by Luke who, sensitive to the oppressed, seeks to transmit a message of hope and liberation to the little ones of society.

But there are also those who are rich before God; both Jeremiah and Jesus have a word for them.

“They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream.  It shall not fear when heat comes,
and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Well, you and I are seeking to be happy and prosper in what we do; yet, not every way we take leads us to what we are looking for. At times we settle in some illusion. The word of God this Sunday is a wake-up message; shaking us out of the slumber of deceptions we may be wallowing in. It’s time to ask oneself: between the two groups that Jeremiah, the psalmist and Jesus talk about -where do I place myself? The chaff to be blown by wind or a tree planted near running water?

Well, in our pursuit for happiness, Jeremiah challenges us to face certain questions: how durable and reliable is the way I have taken? How does it connect with others and God?

In the Gospel Jesus opens us to another way of looking at happiness.

When you feel disadvantaged

There are times when you wonder and ask yourself if you are really on the right track? How come things don’t look as bright as you would like them to be? In fact, you may be watching with envy your friends prospering. Is that what it means to be a believer in God? Not finding answers to those questions has led some people to backslide and just abandon altogether their faith in God. That’s why we need a word which confirms us and encourages us in the choice we have made. Jesus is doing just that.

There are crowds there, but Jesus chooses to fix his eyes on those who have made up their mind to follow him. “Happy are you!” he tells them. Indeed, it’s helpful to pause and just relish the blessing of being Christian. By the way, how conscious are you of this?  If you are not, it’s on you Jesus fixes his eyes to assure you: happy are you for being my disciple! And that’s not all. There’s something more.

Happy are you, now!

We have the beatitude in the Mathew, and the happiness is presented as something to look forward to; a promise yet to be fulfilled. On the contrary, there’s immediacy in the manner Jesus speaks of beatitude in the Gospel according to Luke: “Happy are you…the kingdom of God is yours”. Take note of the present tense. Jesus is talking not about the kingdom to come; but rather the one that’s already there.  It’s about now! The joy of being Christian is not a prospective for tomorrow. Embracing the life of the risen Lord is choosing to take part, here and now, in his risen life. It’s becoming the citizen of heaven, here on earth.  Surely, things may not always be sugary, and yet, you are assured for have your roots deep in the right soil. And so, even though you may be going through tough times, like desert conditions, you can be sure to bloom for, in Jesus, you are planted near running water -there you have the grace of being Christian.

For this one grace I ask the Lord

That I may ever be aware of the precious treasure I carry within me -the treasure of being your disciple. There’s my life and my happiness!

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See also:

5th Sunday C. A Call to Advance into Deep Waters
4th Sunday C. Envy, Cause of War from Childhood
3rd Sunday C. God’s Word; it Unites, Liberates and Rebuilds Us

This Sunday the readings talk about the call. We have the call of Isaiah and of the first disciples. Paul also refers to his calling. And certainly, there’s another one, though only implied; yours and mine. Let’s see then how the word of God confirms and encourages us.

Bible readings
Isaiah 6: 1–8
Psalm 138: 1–5, 7–8
1 Corinthians 15: 1–11
Luke 5: 1–11

Oh, poor me!

The feeling of insufficiency is a common reaction we see among those who are called. God, despite his splendour and grandeur, addresses himself to a mere mortal man which makes Isaiah exclaim: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” It’s the same with Paul in the second reading, no doubt proud of his vocation, yet, he sees himself as “the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle” And Peter too says to Jesus: “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”. This is not false humility; these men have experienced the unimaginable. 

Each in his way, experiences God who stoops to address him a word of invitation.  The Gospel is even more striking. Which head of an enterprise, looking for human resources, would settle for those with glaring marks of failure? We can only take a leaf and affirm, indeed, it’s not just some beautiful phrase we read in the bible -it’s for real: “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor 12:9). When we feel too fragile to make a step, there God’s bounty takes over and shines in us. Indeed, teach us Lord to count on you; on you alone!

Want to try again?

We can imagine the scene, it must have been not the brightest one. The plans and the promises that may have been made on the prospective of that night’s catch just couldn’t work. You can appreciate then that it’s more than just about energy wasted. Naturally, you expect a gloomy cloud hovering the scene of washing the nets. And there you have a feel of the state in which Jesus finds Peter and his friends. Later he tells them, after using Peter’s boat for preaching: “Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch.” Of course, Peter does it but, I guess, not without hesitation, knowing the fruitless labour of whole night he just went through.  Besides, isn’t he better informed about his trade than anyone else? Nevertheless, letting go of his good reasons, he trusts Jesus’ word. And the catch is incredible!

Oh, but that sounds close!

Indeed! That’s not just a beautiful story we read about; it’s close to us and it’s in our present-day experience. We know in our lives not only the feeling, but also concrete events, that we can call a fiasco after which we may have said to ourselves, never again! And ever since, possibly, our only security and consolation is wading in shallow waters. We fear and hesitate to venture. That’s why Jesus’ invitation to Peter, and his friends, to advance into deep waters may be a pat on our back to make a little more courageous strides in our life.

Think of the efforts you may have invested into your profession, business, family or relationship; perhaps today you have all the reasons to wash your hands and say -never again! Of course, you have well founded reasons. But, despite all that, will you be willing to let go of your good reasons and give a chance, in total trust, to Jesus’s word to bring fruition into your life?  He’s inviting you; advance into deep water and lower your net.

Call, leaving the boat and nets

After that big catch, follows Jesus’s call to Peter and his friends to another trade; becoming fishers of men. They leave their boats and nets to follow Jesus. Responding to his call demands liberty with its double sides; the liberty to break from some past that clutters your life and the liberty to embrace the new calling.  What boats and nets, you may wonder, am I to leave behind?

You think perhaps of material things weighing heavily on you, or you may fall into accusing yourself for some sin committed…indeed, the list of boats and nets is endless -it all depends on each person. However, in the light of the call accounts of this Sunday, we can add another item -good reasons!

I have good reasons to convince myself that I can’t do it; I have a good reasons to believe that it’s not worthwhile doing it; I have good reasons to say it’s a waste of time; I have good reasons to say it won’t work; yes, we have good reasons, good reasons and good reasons of not doing what we are supposed to do and what we are capable of doing. And it’s the challenge for Isaiah, Paul and Peter to put aside their good reasons and their feeling of powerlessness in order to trust.

But first thing first!

It begins first with an encounter. Isaiah, Paul, Peter and his friends come to discover the enabling generosity of God only after an encounter of some kind with him, each one in his own way. Without crossing paths with the Lord, we miss the benefit of his empowering call. He’s ever there; I only need to make myself available for the rendezvous with him.

Then, there’s only one grace to ask for; that in my daily schedule I may not be too busy to meet the Lord.

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See also:

4th Sunday C. Envy, Cause of War from Childhood
3rd Sunday C. God’s Word; it Unites, Liberates and Rebuilds Us
2nd Sunday C. Wedding of Cana; Jesus fills your Jars

What an emotional swing! Short time ago people in the synagogue of Nazareth looked at Jesus with admiration, and now they burst in murderous anger against him. What wrong has he done? Or isn’t it just some kind of childhood envy surfacing? Let’s see what message this has for us.

Bible readings
Jeremiah 1: 4–5, 17–19
Psalm 71: 1–6, 15, 17
1 Corinthians 12: 31—13 13
Luke 4: 21–30

What’s gone wrong so suddenly?

The Gospel of this Sunday continues from last Sunday’s, where Jesus announced in the synagogue his mission by reading a text from the prophet Isaiah. He has come to bring good news to the poor, liberation to captives, eyesight to the blind and liberation to the oppressed. People, in great admiration, had their eyes fixed on him. Surprisingly, that doesn’t last long; suddenly things just turn sour and people just want to finish with Jesus by throwing him off the top of the escarpment. What’s the matter?

Envy, from childhood war

Do you remember your childhood? If you don’t, then, just observe children at play and before long you will be shocked to see how children too can battle quite dangerously. Where does that come from? Often from the desire to have everything for oneself. Everything should be for me and the other has no right to possess anything -their behaviour seems to declare. No wonder, the most interesting, and indeed the most wanted, toy is that one which the other child is using. That’s why children find themselves in a tug of war -fighting for the same object. Unfortunately, such babyish avarice can follow us to adulthood -so the battle continues. Our families, groups, places of work, and even parishes can testify.

Them too? Envy at work

The message of liberation that Jesus announces, the people who listen to him in the synagogue think it’s for them alone. It’s unthinkable that pagans, whom they consider as dirty dogs, should also be associated with this favour that God wants to offer his people. But Jesus does not carry a separatist message. He’s the image of God in whom every person is a beloved daughter and a beloved son of the father. Hence, his message is not for few privileged people, but universal message for humanity. Salvation is not a right of inheritance that circulates in the family; it’s an offer that each person chooses to receive, or refuse; Jew or pagan, there’s no difference. God has done that before, and he will do it again; he showed his favour to the widow of Zarephath and to Naaman the pagan leper. No one has the monopoly over God’s kindness.

But it’s inacceptable!

Putting despised pagans into limelight is not only inacceptable, it’s also an insult to the chosen people. Who is this one who comes to throw children’s bread to little dogs? We had better finish with him! That’s how Jesus finds himself in danger among his own people. See how murderous the ideas can be, which we harbour about God, about ourselves and about others! These people, according to the image they have forged, think they know how God should act; bless them and punish pagans. Here’s their prayer:

 “Have mercy upon us, O God of all,
 and put all the nations in fear of you.
Lift up your hand against foreign nations
 and let them see your might....”
(Sirach 36:1-2).

Yet, the God of Jesus is a Father of all; he pours his favours on persons without looking at their name, face, language, country or colour. In him, humanity is one. That comes across strongly especially in the gospel according to Luke, which carries a message of hope to the lowly and the marginalised, like pagans and those who are considered as sinners. But such bounty of God, for some people, it’s a ball on the throat.

Are we different?

Well, begin with the image you have of God, look at the image you have of yourself, and finally the image you have of others. In your family, group or place of work; who deserves praise? Who should get the promotion? Do you accept that it be someone else, not you?

The inflated image we may have of ourselves, and the desire to have everything in our lap, may be an obstacle in our interaction with others. Then, we come to realise that we hold a grudge against someone not necessarily because of the wrong they have done against us; we simply battle against God’s bounty. We don’t tolerate that something good can be found also in another person’s court.

What would I like to hear?

The gospel can inspire us to reflect also on our attitude towards not only God’s word but also what others say. What do I want to hear? Perhaps those who tell me: you’re right, that’s good or only those words that support my position. Then, we are not surprised to see that the overcrowded worshipping places are those that have a unique message: promising blessing and success. Yet, we know too well, when God sends prophets is not just to caress people with sweet, soothing messages. A prophet is also sent to denounce what’s ungodly and inhuman; he has a double mission, deconstructing and constructing. That’s the mission God entrusts to Jeremiah as prophet, it’s the same mission of Jesus -and it’s ours too.

Mission to radiate love for all persons

Yes, Lord, we are the chosen people whom you love so much; and you send us to radiate your universal love. At times we fail, chocked by ball of envy and jealousy. Give us to welcome your word that you address us through the prophets of our time, so that renewed by it, we may not only rejoice in your favour that you show to every person but that we may also be witnesses of your love for every person.

Subscribe by giving your email address to receive new posts. You can also join the Facebook group:Your WORD is LAMP for my FEET & LIGHT on my PATH. SHARE, and keep SHARING the posts!

See also:

3rd Sunday C. God’s Word; it Unites, Liberates and Rebuilds Us
2nd Sunday C. Wedding of Cana; Jesus fills your Jars
Baptism of the Lord C. Declaration of Love