Self Judgment

Is it wrong to want to help others when they fall into trouble?

He also told them a parable: ‘Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, “Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye”, when you yourself do not see the log 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 neighbor’s eye. ‘No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.  The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. ‘Why do you call me “Lord, Lord”, and do not do what I tell you? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them.  That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.  But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house.’ -  Luke 6:39-49

There are several messages for us in today's Gospel reading, but they all have one thing in common, and that is focusing on our own foundation of faith.

Before we can truly be of help to others, we need to first make sure our faith is solid, that we are right with God and with ourselves.  After all, what good is it to be a bad example?

Of course we never see ourselves as a bad example, do we?

The ability to judge one's self is a gift, a blessing, and it takes work on our part.  As Paul said about how we see the world, we also see ourselves through a glass darkly, meaning we don't get a good self impression at times.

We might think we are good examples of how to live right lives, only to find out those we try to set right resent and reject us.  They see the log in our eyes as we see the speck in theirs.

We have seen many examples of late of those who lead lauding it over those they lead, and like the blind, we continue to follow.  At some point, when we are honest to ourselves about our flaws, we may finally see the flaws clearly in others, and choose a different path.

For now, let us focus on our own.

More to come...