GOSPEL POWER l SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 l FRIDAY

23rd Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Lk 6:39-42  

39Jesus also told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a  blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? 40A disciple is not above  the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the  teacher. 41Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do  not notice the log in your own eye? 42Or 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.” 

The commandment to love one’s neighbor puts forward  the love-of-self as its measure. In a similar way, a healthy  relationship with others presupposes a sound self-knowledge  acquired through an honest scrutiny of one’s life. Since no one of us  is perfect, for we all have flaws of character in varying degrees, then  none of us can presume to be better than others and more qualified to  lead them or criticize and correct them. Striving for personal integrity  must be an ongoing commitment. Its goal can never be to set oneself  above others, but simply to relate with them in all honesty and by  doing so fulfill the commandment to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Lord Jesus, may our striving to grow in self-knowledge also be our  formation to humility. Amen