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."
REFLECTION
"Can a blind person guide a blind person?"
On Mother Mary's birthday I met the wife of a 9/11 survivor. Her husband was in New York working as a consultant on the 70th floor of the North Tower on September 11, 2001. He, as many others, had their breakfast and morning coffees, took a taxi or subway to work and had plans for dinner or other activities one does when visiting New York.
Many survivors of 9/11 have spoken about how differently they saw life afterward. Things that were terribly important and could not wait, suddenly were small. Resentments, disagreements, worries and differences lost their importance. For the survivors faith, life, family, forgiveness and love were what mattered.
Today's Gospel reminds us how judgmental we can be, blinded by anger, jealousy, pride, that we can't see the beam in our own eyes because we are so busy seeing the splinter in our neighbor's eyes.
September 11 reminded all how fragile life can be and puts life and the future in proper perspective to the past and the present. Before we fret about someone else's faults, let us ask ourselves, "Where am I blind, Lord? Do I judge too readily? Carry a grudge?"
Many times we fail to see our faults because we are so busy keeping tabs on our neighbor. Set aside all, and ask God to help us see others as He sees them with love and mercy.
Please pray for all who died on September 11, 2001
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