When I was in college, I thought I had already learned a lot. I felt I was wise enough. This led me to discriminate other people. I was busy looking at the mistakes of others. I easily judged and labeled those people who committed mistakes, scandals, and bad decisions in their lives. I also had the tendency to judge people based on what they did, without knowing the reason behind it. I was not aware that I was so blind of my own flaws and countless mistakes.

In today’s Gospel, the Lord admonishes the danger of judging and condemning others. He reveals the consequences when one keeps on judging and condemning others, the rewards when one forgives others for their sins, and the privileges when one shares his or her blessings to those in need. The Lord also instructs us to remove the wooden beam from our eyes to see clearly the goodness in others.

As time passed by, with the mercy of God, I realized that I also have imperfections and flaws. When I started to devote myself to prayer and reading the Holy Scriptures, I slowly realized how foolish and ignorant I was to judge others easily. After meditating on the Gospel, I see all the more my littleness and sinfulness. Beyond my past mistakes, God is there and His mercy is much bigger than any of my sins.

By: Sem. Jose A. Cordova Jr.

Today’s Gospel

Lk 6:39-42

Jesus told his disciples a parable:
“Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained,
every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
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.”