Next Sunday is Lent. This Sunday’s gospel could well be a good teaching to usher us into Lent.  It reveals Jesus’ remarkable understanding of the human heart and soul.  The gospel contains three periscopes and opens with: ‘Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit’ (Lk 6:39).  We may ponder Jesus’ question with: Who, then, is one who sees?  More specifically, who is one who truly sees his or her neighbor?  And Jesus gives us this reply using a metaphor: ‘Why do you notice the splinter in your brother or sister’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?’ (Lk 6:41).  How do we come to truly see another person?  The key in the parable says that we must first look inwardly at our own heart, at all those quick partial judgments that so quickly rule how we see and how we engage another person.

Readings of the day: RB 18:20-25Mass: 2 K 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18; Resp Ps 60; Mt 7:1-5

As you judge, so will you be judged,and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
A phrase comes to mind: If the shoe fits, wear it. It is times like these when I want to run and hide.
Remove the wooden