Change in Attitude is very much necessary to have better sight

                                                                GOSPEL THOUGHTS

23^rd Week – Friday

Gospel – Luke 6: 39-42

First Reading 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22b-27

 Change in Attitude is very much necessary to have better sight

 1) We see Wooden Beam in others eyes and nothing in our eyes

 This is the common  attitude which we see in most of us. 

 We are of the opinion that I am clearly able to see and other is having a problem. 

 We see problem out side of us and think that problem exist in others and not in me.

 2) Jesus says that we have wooden beams in our eyes and splinter in others eyes

This is the quite opposite to our personal view about the self. So at times we find it very hard to accept Jesus' teaching which touches the core of our being. 

What is wooden beam and what is splinter. There is a huge difference between these. 

The funniest thing in this process is a person who is having wooden beam in his eyes, trying to see something in another's eye, which appears to be impossible. 

But we think that it is possible. But in reality it is not possible. 

3) First of all need to clear the woods beam in my own eyes

This is more reasonable and practical. 

Removing of the wooden beam from the eyes will make our life more easy and we will be able to see clearly. 

Since wooden beam is so big in size, the person who has in his eyes will be able to identify easily and can be removed. 

4) Wooden beam in the eyes blocks the eye sight

 

As long as the wooden beam is found in the eyes it blocks the eye sight and we are unable to have clear vision 

When the wooden beam is found in the eyes, it does not allow the eyes to open. Automatically the eyes are closed because of the uneasiness created by the wooden beam. So finally it blocks our vision and knowing the reality 

 5) The various possible wooden beams which may find place in our eyes, mind and heart

The major problem with wooden beam is that it blocks the vision. The following wooden beams may block our vision from various angle, either from eyes, or of mind or of the heart

• The wooden beam of pride will block the vision of the mind and heart 
• The wooden beam of Jealousy
• The wooden beam of revenge
• The wooden beam of selfishness
• The wooden beam of undue bodily pleasures
• The wooden beam of excessive desire for money, wealth, power and position
• The wooden beam of gossip
• The wooden beam of un-forgiveness 
• The wooden beam of Laziness 
• The wooden beam of carelessness

All these heavy wooden beams weakens our vision of the mind, heart and of the eyes. 

6) Am I ready to remove the above wooden beams from my own eyes, heart and mind

Clear vision comes only when one is able to remove these wooden beams from our own eyes, heart and mind 

At times we need the help of others to remove these wooden beams since they are very heavy 

Removing these wooden beams will be a Herculean task, but one has to remove in order to live a genuine and holy life 

At times we need to be humble enough to ask our neighbors help to remove the wooden beams from our own eyes. 

*Am I ready for this?*

7 Which are the wooden beams block my vision?

Don't try to reduce the size of the wooden beams into splinter. Try to remove the wooden beam itself.

 Think about it

God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones.

Fr Maxim D’Souza

Jeppu Seminary

Mangalore