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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye,

but do not notice the log in your own eye?

Or how can you say to your brother,

‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’,

while the log is in your own eye?”

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– Matthew 7:3-4 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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When we feel that others let us down badly by their actions or behaviour;

or hurt us deeply, perhaps by words said in anger;

and when we believe that others are totally in the wrong

while we justify ourselves, perhaps convinced that we are fully in the right

…that is the time to consider what Jesus told us

about the danger of not noticing the log in our own eye

as we accusingly point at the tiniest of specks in the eye of another.

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If we humbly ask the Holy Spirit in truth

to help us look closer at the way we are

and at the way we reason and act,

then He will.

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The Holy Spirit, if we allow Him to,

will counsel us and help us swallow our pride;

will console us and heal our hurts;

and He will also produce in us this kind of fruit:

love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23)

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PRAYER…

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Lord,

help me look at myself

and into myself.

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Give me the grace

to look for,

to recognise,

and to acknowledge,

my vices, my weaknesses, my failings

– which my pride can stop me from seeing.

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Give me the grace

to look for,

to recognise,

and to acknowledge,

the virtues that others have

– which conceit can stop me from admitting.

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Lord Jesus,

help me remove the log from my eye.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, help me remove the log from my eye.

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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It is important for every person to be sufficiently present to himself

in order to hear and follow the voice of his conscience.

This requirement of interiority is all the more necessary

as life often distracts us from any reflection, self-examination or introspection:

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Return to your conscience, question it…

Turn inward, brethren,

and in everything you do, see God as your witness. (St. Augustine)

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[CCC 1779]

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