23rd Week in Ordinary Time : Friday 12th September 2025

Jesus teaches His disciples by raising the issue, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.” Our pretty and prided vision of ourselves can be disfigured by our unkind judgment against others. The perennial issue that overzealous Christians are oblivious to confront is to change themselves before summoning others to abide in the way of the Lord. Too often, the intention to transform others is actually to impose one’s expectation upon others so that one can live conveniently upon subjugating others. This is bullying.

Jesus command to love our neighbour as ourselves is a perduring value to restore confidence in the way we relate to one another. To say that we love our neighbour is putting forward the love which Christ has of us as its measure. It is unconditional and growing deeper. But we think that we see things clearer than others: we become judgmental instead of being compassionate to their weaknesses and failings. In truth, we dare not face our own shadows to admit our own blind spots. The call to daily examine is offered to us. Do I seize the opportunity?

PRAYER Lord Jesus, teach me to be slow in passing Judgment and sustain me to grow in my integrity and humility in forging compassionate relationships.