Word to the Wise
Friday, September 13, 2013 - Friday in the 23th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Tim 1:1-2, 12-14 and Luke 6:39-42]Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?......Hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first, then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother's eye.
"Visual aids" can be helpful in preaching, but I don't use very any of them. However, in the case of today's gospel, I have found it fun and useful to look for a nice chunk of wood - one with some splinters in it - to hand to folks in the congregation and tell them to pass it around while I'm speaking about splinters and beams! Jesus' metaphor is very physical and clear!
Jesus' word for the folks who ignore their eye beams and notice everyone else's splinters is also clear. He calls such people "hypocrites!" That is not a word most of us would care to apply to ourselves! As "prior" [local superior] of a community of 12 Dominican friars, my position requires me to "correct" or "admonish" a brother from time to time. This means I have to become very acquainted with my "beam and splinters" if my efforts are to have any effect at all! I can't run away from my responsibilities, but I have to know my limitations! St. Paul's words to Timothy in today's first scripture are powerful. He remembers his past and how God's grace has helped him to change his life. Grace like that can clear away beams and splinters both, but God relies on human instruments most of the time to get this done. That chunk of wood that I pass around does a better job than I can, but I had to find it and pass it! AMEN