Luke 6:42a
How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,' when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
Today the Church remembers St. John Chrysostom. Chrysostomos meaning "golden mouthed". The saint once said, "God gives the crown to those who are kept from evil, not by force, but by choice."
In today's Gospel, Jesus disapproves the removal of a splinter in another's eye by force. Repentance and conversion cannot truly take place by force, but only through a free movement of the heart. Perhaps we know someone who is being led into evil due to a splinter in their eye – they do not fully comprehend where they are heading. Great humility on our part is required for the other person to follow the true Teacher, Jesus. We cannot force them.
As Christians we are called to remove the splinter in our own eyes, acknowledging our own sinfulness, past and present, before that of any one else. We do this because, as St. Paul says in the first reading, we have been "mercifully treated". We cannot, of course, leave our brothers in sin – we desire that crown of glory for them! Acting with charity once the splinter is removed from our eye, we begin following the true Teacher, not into judgement, but into charitable admonishment, and ultimately, into peace.
Get to know our seminarians! Today's reflection was written by:
Elvi J. Moya, Pre-Theology II
Home parish: Nativity
Did you know...
I'm of Dominican descent, was born in New Jersey, and graduated from USF's College of Nursing. I love Our Lady and entrust my vocation to her Immaculate Heart!
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