How often are we guilty of the same things that we criticize other people for? Jesus challenges us to remove the wooden beam from our own eye first. Matthew Zurcher, SJ, reflects on this call to humility. Based on the readings for Sunday, February 27, 2022.
Hi, I’m Matthew Zurcher and this is my One-Minute Reflection.
One of my surest paths to humiliation is to criticize you for doing something only moments before doing it myself. This week, Jesus challenges us to notice and remove the wooden beam in our own eyes before we try to help others with their splinters.
Ever notice how the first thing we do at Mass is acknowledge our sinfulness? To be of any help to one another, we must take off our own blindfolds first. With a Church, government, and public discourse wracked by hypocrisy and quick condemnation, we could use a healthy dose of this wisdom, myself included. I pray to always begin with humility and self-reflection.
We are united in our weakness and called to a posture of humble solidarity. This week, let’s ask Jesus to take off our blindfolds and practice this posture by first relating with those we want to criticize. Instead of condemning, let’s begin by saying to each other: I know what it is like to struggle. I’m right here with you. Perhaps the way out of our fallen urge to condemn is the tender companionship of weakness.
