GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 20TH JUNE 2016
MONDAY OF THE 12TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: 2Kings 17:5-8, 13-15, 18
PSALM: Psalm 60:3-5, 12-13
GOSPEL: Matthew 7:1-5
THEME: THE LOG IN THE EYE
As he laid on his deathbed, his memory unlocked scenes of his life’s journey. One by one, he recalled all the critical and sometimes painful remarks he had made about people in his bid to make them change. The people he had sought to change never really changed. The world was still dark as ever. Gazing at the mirror on his right-hand side, he said, “Alas, if only I had spent my life’s energy changing myself rather than others, I would have become a light for the dark world.”
Jesus, in our Gospel text for the day, continues his sermon on the mount with a caution – “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is 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 brother’s eye” (Mat 7:3-5).
Criticizing people can easily become a defense mechanism, a tool to make people focus on the shortcomings of others rather than one’s own shortcomings. Leo Tolstoy is quoted as saying, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself”.
Sound spirituality starts with the self. The deeper we look into the self, the more we come to appreciate the fact that there is a lot of repair works that need to be done. Mother Teresa is credited with the saying, “If everyone only cleaned their own doorsteps, the whole world would be clean.”
As we surrender ourselves to the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ, a change takes place in us. When one person changes, it is the world that has changed. Perhaps, instead of being excessively critical about others, let us consider first taking the log out of our own eyes.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours. Amen
Fr. Andrews Obeng, SVD
DIVINE WORD
MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)