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| St. John Chyrsostom |
(Audio)
Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,'
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
Although it probably isn't a good idea to allow our brother to go around with a splinter in his eye we should make sure we are in a position to help him before we make the attempt. If we are still blind we are not in a position to offer guidance to others who are also blind. But Jesus promises that "when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher."
Our teacher is Jesus who gives sight to the blind and guides them in the path to life. We, on the other hand, pull back from any responsibility for our brothers because we are commanded not to judge. But what that really means is that we are not use judgment as a weapon of ego against other people. We are supposed to have compassion that makes us want to help people get free from sin and error just as Jesus had too much compassion to leave us similarly trapped.
We should know that our own worthiness has nothing to do with whether or not Jesus can use us. Our own willingness has everything to do with it.
I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord,
because he considered me trustworthy
in appointing me to the ministry.
I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man,
but I have been mercifully treated
because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief.
We have to get the plank removed from our eyes just as Paul needed the scales to fall from his. We need Jesus to restore our sight. Only then can we share the grace of our LORD, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. But this is just what we are meant to do. Paul was blinded precisely so that he would learn to see in a new and more perfect way. He did not hesitate to call out sin when he witnessed it. Now it was no longer done for misguided zeal that trampled over the hearts and lives of others. Instead it was done precisely for the sake of those given over to such behaviors, that they might be restored.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
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