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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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Growing up in the South, watermelon was always a sweet summer treat. But anyone who’s ever eaten watermelon also knows that you have to spit out the seeds.
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Strangely enough, isn’t that a fitting image for today’s Gospel on judgment?
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“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” Jesus says.
In other words, why are you quick to point out the “seeds” in other people, without realizing that you’re watermelon, too?
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So much of the value we place on other people – and upon ourselves – is determined by what we focus on: either the negative or the positive.
Instead of seeing the “seeds” in other people – or even the “seeds” within ourselves – make the effort to find what’s good.
Everyone will be happier as a result.
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Image credits: (1) CandleScience (2) TPorenson (3) Solid Starts