✝️ REFLECTION CAPSULE FOR THE DAY: Sep 11, 2020 – Friday
“Seeking for the Grace of being compassionate and charitable in dealing with the faults of others!”
(Based on 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-27 and Lk 6:39-42 – Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time)
The eye is one of the most sensitive parts of the human body.
>> An eye surgery, therefore, becomes one of the most vulnerable surgeries of all.
It takes a compassionate hand and a delicate touch to do surgery in the eye.
When there is an eye trouble, we need a doctor who knows what he/she is doing because even the slightest mistake can have catastrophic consequences.
The Gospel of the Day focuses our attention on the EYE…
… and the need to have a clear and fine eye!
Jesus says, “Can a blind person, guide a blind person?” (Lk 6: 39)
The Lord has blessed us with the gift of the Eye…
>> We are to marvel at the treasure of creation and the beauty and marvel at the wonders in nature.
>> We are to see the many gifts and talents that we possess in ourselves.
>> We are also to see the resources and assets in others and to grow in our love for our fellow beings.
This love for the others also, however, makes us…
… to encounter the weaknesses and shortcomings in others!
… to get impatient and irritated with others!
Christian love is not blind.
Christ never says to, “ignore the faults of others.”
>> But He surely does say, “Take care of your own faults first.”
That’s why Jesus says, “Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly, to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye” (Lk 6:42b)
Look in the mirror!
>> Am I quick to see how arrogant people are…
… when I myself am often given into to anger and quick-temper?
>> Am I quick to see how lethargic are people in their spiritual life…
…when I myself fail to be active and energetic?
>> Am I quick to see how corrupt and dishonest people are…
… when I myself often resort to unhealthy lifestyles?
Sometimes we tend to have a microscopic view when we look at the faults of others…
>> A microscope magnifies an image and displays the view in a much enlarged and amplified manner.
Maybe the following check-list will help us to discern whether I am microscopic in my perception of others:
>> Do I blow small things out of proportion and make mountains out of molehills, without realizing its drastic consequences?
>> Do I maximize the sins of others – their faults, their bad habits and their shortcomings, without understanding their contexts and backgrounds and situations?
>> Do I come to quick, hasty or negative conclusions without seeking to garner the full truth & the complete information & details?
>> Do I unnecessarily get involved in situations where we should not be involved and thus bring upon unnecessary tensions and worries upon ourselves?
>> Do I pass along critical stories to others and fail to verify the authenticity of the rumours and even fail to stop a particular gossip from disseminating?
>> Do I have a strong bias to find others guilty and often look at the other with eyes of suspicion and doubt and scepticism?
>> Do I behave too harsh even when speaking the truth and fail to realize the emotions and the feelings that could cripple the person under guilt?
>> Do I add aggravating remarks and sprinkle home-made masalas when re-telling a story about the life or event of another person and thus twist things in the way I want?
>> Do I taking delight in condemning others and harping upon the misdeeds of others and thus enjoy a certain amount of pleasure and gratification through this process of character assassination?
Christian charity demands that we seek to correct others and help others in their growth and progress of spiritual health!
But in dealing with the fault of others, what is most needed is: A clear vision!
Psalm 139:23-24 says:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
The order or the sequence in which we go about this process is highly crucial and vital:
>> First, we judge ourselves.
>> First, we be hard on ourselves.
>> First, we ask the Lord to show us our sins.
Until we do that, the “speck” in our brother’s eye will look like a log to us…
… while the log in us will be invisible!
>> Only then are we ready to find the fault in others and help them to overcome the “spot” in their lives!
This stage of our life will be characterized by the virtues of:
>> Humility
>> Gentleness
>> Patience
>> Discretion
When we sincerely follow these virtues…
… our sins will bother us more than the sins of others!
… our failures will disturb us more than the failures of others!
… our weaknesses will unsettle us more than the weaknesses of others!
St Paul gives a beautiful adage:
“To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak.
>> I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some.
>> I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings!” (1 Cor 9:22-23)
The line is fine and thin: between correcting others and being charitable to others
The line is slender and slim: between helping others and being judgemental on others
Yes, the eye is highly sensitive and an eye surgery, is one of the most vulnerable surgeries of all.
>> It takes a compassionate hand and a delicate touch to do surgery in the eye!
Let us seek for this grace of being compassionate and charitable in dealing with the faults of others!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
– Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
Bengaluru, India
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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – ” Those who look well after their own consciences…
… rarely fall into the sin of judging others!”
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Nelson MCBS 