Daily Gospel Reflection

The Log in Your Eye

Welcome back to Radical and Relevant, where each day we're exploring the genius of Jesus in the gospels and looking for a way to anchor our day in the gospel, the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Today's reading is from the Gospel of Luke. We're working our way through chapter 6, here, the last few days. And today's reading comes from Luke chapter 6:39-42. Jesus also told them a parable. "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully taught will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, '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. You hypocrite. First, take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.'"

What jumps out at you today? For some reason that the reading conjures images of the culture for me. His first image is a blind man leading another blind man both falling into a pit. I think we have a lot of blind men leading blind men and women in our culture today and falling into pits-- and deep pits at that. And then, of course, there's this image of you know wanting to take the speck out of someone else's eye when we have a log in our own eye. And so Jesus' challenge to really take a look at ourselves and to say, "Okay, how can I improve? How can I improve in this relationship? How can I improve as a member of this community? How can I improve as a citizen? How can I improve as a member of the church, both at the parish level and the church universal? What is the fault in me that needs to be addressed?" We're quick to address the faults of others and slow to address our own faults. And of course, Jesus wants to turn that upside down and get us to focus on our own need for transformation, our own need to change, to grow, to develop, and to become more fully who He created us to be. Have a great day. And remember, don't just be yourself. Be the very best-version-of-yourself, all that God created you to be.