Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: For migrants and refugees arriving in the communities this District serves, that they be met with welcome rather than suspicion.
Today’s Gospel | Luke 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.”
From the Tenth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
It is easy to conclude from these examples that your zeal for the children who are under your guidance would be very imperfect if you exercised it only by instructing them; it will only become perfect if you practice yourselves what you are teaching them. Example makes a much greater impression on the mind and heart than words especially for children, since they do not yet have minds sufficiently able to reflect, and they ordinarily model themselves on the example of their teachers. They are led more readily to do what they see done for them than what they hear told to them, above all when the teachers’ words are not in harmony with their actions.
Prayer
Eternal Father, your Son said that a blind guide leads others into the pit. Show us what we have stopped noticing in ourselves. Give us the discomfort of accurate self-knowledge before we take up the work of correcting anyone else. Let those who follow us be led somewhere good. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.