GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Luke

Luke 6:39-45

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.

“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,

nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.

For every tree is known by its own fruit.

For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,

nor do they gather grapes from brambles.

A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,

but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;

for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”

The word of the Lord

 

Sampling of purity

What we say to each other as spouses is a good sample of the purity or impurity of our hearts and, consequently, the quality of our love. There is no possible deception there. I contemplate how I speak to my spouse and what I say, and whether I complain about him/her or if I bless God at all times for my spouse. Then, perhaps, I will have a contrite and humbled heart.

 

Applied to married life:

Jaime: I think I am too quick to judge you harshly. What should I do?

Lorena: Ask for forgiveness for the times you tried to remove the thread from my eye without noticing the stick in your own eye. I have learned that there is nothing more serious than the pride of believing that someone has the right to judge others. So, I also ask for your forgiveness because I have spoken badly to you many times and judged you in my heart.   

Jaime: I forgive you, and I also ask for forgiveness for my pride.

Lorena: Well, what you just did is already an act of humility. I am proud to have you as my husband.

Jaime: I am also proud to have you as my wife. There is no one better.

 

Mother,

How many things are still in our hearts that should not be defiling it. Praise be to the Lord who purifies it.