The Blind Leading the Blind by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1568 (Public Domain, US)
First reading 1 Timothy 1:1-2,12-14
I used to be a blasphemer, but the mercy of God was shown me
From Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus appointed by the command of God our saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, true child of mine in the faith; wishing you grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, and who judged me faithful enough to call me into his service even though I used to be a blasphemer and did all I could to injure and discredit the faith. Mercy, however, was shown me, because until I became a believer I had been acting in ignorance; and the grace of our Lord filled me with faith and with the love that is in Christ Jesus.
Responsorial Psalm 15(16):1-2,5,7-8,11
You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God.’
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
it is you yourself who are my prize.
You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight:
since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.
You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand happiness for ever.
You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Gospel Luke 6:39-42
Can the blind lead the blind?
Jesus told a parable to the disciples: ‘Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.’
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Mercy was shown to me
“I use to be a blasphemer and did all I could to injure and discredit the faith. Mercy, however, was shown to me…”. These are St. Paul’s words in today’s first reading. He judged and persecuted the early Christians because he was blind to the plank in his own eyes. He regarded himself as righteous and deemed the rest as sinners. Yet, along the journey to Damascus, he encountered Jesus, who led him to walk the journey of learning to see others and himself with the eyes of mercy and love.
We tend to look at people negatively and often judge them for their mistakes and weaknesses, while we are blind to our own faults. It is essential to acknowledge that we do not have a complete insight into other people, and thus, we can never judge them. Instead, let us ask Jesus to help us see the plank that we have in our eyes and heal us from our blindness. May we learn to look at others with mercy in the same way that Jesus looks at us with His merciful love.
Question for reflection:
What prevents me from looking at others with mercy?
What prevents me from looking at others with mercy?
