First Reading: 1Cor 9:16-19. 22b-27; Psalm: 84. R. v. 2; Gospel: Lk 6:39-42

IMPERFECTION: OUR COLLECTIVE FEATURE

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

The gospel of today reminds us that ‘imperfection’ is a similar feature which every one of us possesses. None of us is faultless. And this is why if we must correct, then we must do that in love because we have no right to criticise unless we ourselves are free of faults. “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eyes, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye?”

Those who are hypocrites are those who don’t acknowledge their failings while they speak of other people. If we are always conscious of our flawed nature, perhaps we will speak of people with a little kindness. Most times, we are not different from what we criticise. We could even be worse. How then can a blind man lead another blind man? They both have the same end.  

What Jesus expects from us is to be different from the popular conventional lifestyle of the world. We can only inspire people when we are different from them. This mark of difference sets the tone for an effective evangelisation. And since we are all not perfect, we have to speak to and pray for one another in love because there is so much bad in the best of us and so much good in the worst of us. But although we are imperfect, we must condemn an action if it is bad but not the person. When we begin to hate a person because of what he/she does, then we are beginning to condemn the person and not the action in question.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

O Lord, open our eyes to our own faults so that we may not judge others but correct them in love. Amen.