Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Some think of Jesus as “otherworldly,” sort of a religious “guru” spreading good vibrations wherever he went. But Jesus’ mission was polarizing, drawing lines in the sand (sometimes literally). He opened hearts and he hardened hearts. He challenged that you were either with him or against him. Some flocked to him, others were repelled by him, still others conspired to kill him. More left him than stayed with him. According to the pass/failure grading curve of the Mediterranean world of the first century, his final mark would be an “F.”
Why’d they leave? The many who followed and eventually fell away were troubled by his “hard sayings” such as “sell all you have and give to the poor,” “let the dead bury the dead,” “love your enemies and do good to those who persecute you.” And, of course, what he says in today’s Gospel, “remove the log from your own eye before you take out the splinter in your brother’s eye.”
What are we to do with this Gospel? Do we stay with him when hearing the “hard sayings?” Here are three questions to ponder regarding “logs” and “splinters.”
- Why do we criticize others? Are we simply projecting our own faults and weaknesses onto others?
- Are we more alike in our weaknesses with others than we are different? Or do the logs in our own eyes prevent us from seeing clearly?
- Splinters and logs share a similar nature: both are made of wood. What faults do I share with those of a similar nature to me (others) which I am blind to myself?
Our Lord emphasizes the importance of humility and grace in dealing with others' faults, rather than arrogance and judgment. Throughout the entirety of our spiritual lives, humility regarding the failings of others must be our goal.
And practice makes perfect.
—Timothy J. Cronin