1 Tim 1:1-2, 12-14 / Lk 6:39-42
Have you ever noticed the breadth of expertise, virtue, and wisdom on every topic under the sun that seems to congregate at a cocktail party and most other gatherings? It’s amazing how much we think we know, and how sinless we seem to think we are! If only we were given the reigns of government, or absolute control over our workplace, or full power to administer our local parish, all things would soon approach the conditions of the Garden of Eden.
Jesus has a quick response to such illusions: “Get your own house in order before you try to handle anyone else’s business.” How sensible that advice is, and how hard it is to follow. It’s so much easier to take potshots at what’s out there than to attend to what’s inside our own lives, especially if we don’t have the habit of looking within.
Jesus’ admonition to attend to the plank in our own eyes before attacking the splinter in our neighbor’s eye is surely graphic, and it gives a good indication of the relative scale of the issues involved: Major lumber vs. a piece of sawdust. The issue is blindness: “I think I’m just perfect and therefore I have the right to focus on your faults.” Whereas the reality is that I have big problems that I haven’t even seen.
And that brings us to our task for the day: Forget everybody else’s sins and mistakes, and instead take a good look at your own. Face yourself in the presence of the Lord. See yourself as He sees you. And then ask His help to do what is needed. He never says “no” to anyone who asks with an honest heart. And when you finally get your own life together, you’ll be ready to be the compassionate friend and fellow pilgrim we all hope to find.