The gospel reading of today contains series of sayings about masters of the Christian community and these in extension concerns us as individuals. One of these different sayings of Jesus that I would want us to concentrate on is "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?" This statement of Jesus informs that Yoruba’s proverb we have as our theme for this reflection "Falana gbo tie" (Look to your own affairs).

 

We should not be quick to confuse this saying of Jesus as a way of minding only our business without paying attention to how much we can be of help to our brothers and sisters in terms of moral teaching and upbringing, No, and this is why the context in which the statement was uttered is quite important for our understanding. Jesus in this part, is speaking with regards to the hypocrisy of the teachers of the people who have become blind guides; paying so much attention on the wrongs of others at the expense of theirs. These are people who enlarge the speck in their brother's eye yet do not take note of the filth in their own thoughts.

In a world like ours where individualism is at its peak, everyone has become a judge and in fact, the ideal and so everyone has the best picture of how others should be except for ourselves. We are faced with the frequent temptation of correcting others and fighting against evil; exaggerating the evil in others while we overlook or lessen the evil spirit in ourselves. Once, the ball is not in our court, the standards must not be bent but once it falls to us, we can amend the standard to suite us. Are we not more of hypocrites as we clamour for a change in the world but never ready to change ourselves? It is always about changing others but never about changing ourselves. We forget so easily that change begins with the individual person.

 

We need not look too far, by their fruits we shall know them. With the fruits you produce, we shall know the kind of tree that you are and they will say "eefin ni iwa" (Character is like a smoke. You cannot hide it) which is why first impression may be wrong sometimes and so the first reading tells us "Do not praise a man before you hear him speaks, for this is the test of men" Before condemning and pronouncing anathema, before spending time criticizing, we are to search into ourselves, with modesty, how we ourselves can become better; for we cannot give what we do not have. How do we teach others to be poor in spirit, mourning for our sins, meek or hunger and thirsting for righteousness, or merciful or pure in heart or peacemakers or suffer persecution for righteousness' sake when we ourselves are far from all these? Actions speak louder than voice, they say.

 

Let us become objective today in our approach to corrections and let this begin right from ourselves, with this, it becomes easier to translate the same training to others. All of these teachings are to help us eventually have a place with Him at the end of our earthly sojourn and so St. Paul enjoins us "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain."

 

Let us pray: Give us the grace O Lord to always see the good in others. Amen

Happy Sunday, Stay Safe and Stay Blessed.