FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2024
FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY THIRD WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM,B.D (MEMORIAL)
I Corinthians 9:16-19.22-27
Luke 6:39-42
SEEK CONSTANT SELF EVALUATION
The Church in her wisdom has given ample opportunities for every Christian to recourse to oneself and make good assessment of ones moral life every day. This self introspect helps to discover grey areas of our lives that need to be worked on. These times are even allowed in the Churches celebration of the Mass, the night prayers, during daily meditation and quiet moments of our lives. How well we use these times determine our disposition to correcting ourselves of wrong doings and evil inclinations within us.
The gospel of today, calls us again to be generous in discovering our faults by getting down to assess ourselves personally. Jesus uses the parable that is even more humorous to drive home his point that we most times engage in criticising, condemning and even judging others without knowing that we may be doubly guilty of the same offenses that we accuse others of doing.
Jesus wants us to be better disposed to helping others by first helping ourselves in discovering our own faults. By so doing, we will be able to show compassion, love and understanding when correcting others, since we would have been able to know the difficulties, the stress, and the efforts in overcoming the faults.
The judgement, condemnation, or criticism that we engage in against others sometimes, are done out of pride, ill feelings, hatred and with the motive of evil desires. They are never done with the right intention especially when we are seen to be doubly guilty of same offence.
And for those in leadership positions, there must be clearness and sincerity of purpose, steadfastness and genuine love in leading than the mere pride of leadership especially where one is not even better than the led.
Saint Paul in the first reading adds to the discourse by stating how he is running the race of his salvation with single-minded devotion, pummelling his body, arming himself with genuine focus and intention of winning the race and not just to impress anyone or to be boasting.
For Paul, the salvation of oneself is to be pursued with great necessity, selflessness and devotion.
It is of necessity to keep and grow a better self understanding, through meditation and prayers. This will eventually help oneself to discover ones faults, ones inclinations, ones evil desires and with the aim of making consistent efforts to overcome and conquer them. This is always humbling, productive and will help in the spread of the gospel.
God our salvation, grant us a better knowledge of ourselves. Help us O Lord, to discover the grey areas of our lives that need your divine touch. May we give ourselves to be transformed, to grow, to overcome these grey areas than criticising, condemning and calumnizing others. Grant us growth in the spiritual life and joy of salvation through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
