The log in your own eye

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Aveugle de Coeur

Keur Moussa

Today is Friday the 11th of September, in the 23rd week of Ordinary Time.

The monks of the Abbey of Keur Moussa sing Aveugle de Coeur: “Blind in heart since my birth, I come to you, Light of the world…. Let me live as a child of light” As you listen, ask the Lord to open your eyes to what he wants you to see. Ask for the grace of God to shine God's light into your life.

4:14

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 6:39-42

[Jesus] also told them a parable: ‘Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, “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 neighbour’s eye.

5:33

Today, Jesus is warning against the confidence with which we sometimes offer guidance or correction to others while remaining unaware of our own blind spots. Where might you be more limited in your own vision than you like to admit, especially with people closest to you?

The speck and the log is a deliberately exaggerated image, meant to catch us laughing at ourselves before we can take offence. Self-knowledge, Jesus suggests, has to come before we can rightly help anyone else see clearly. Is there someone whose faults loom unusually large in your mind at the moment? What might Jesus be inviting you to notice in yourself first?

As you hear the reading again, ask for the grace of a little more self-knowledge, and notice what comes to mind.

8:33

Luke 6:39-42

[Jesus] also told them a parable: ‘Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, “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 neighbour’s eye.

9:52

Bring to God, honestly, whatever this reading has stirred up about your own blind spots, and ask for the humility to see yourself, and others, with clearer eyes.

12:04

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen