Brother's eye and Splinter Vs My own eye with Wooden beam

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : 12th Week - Monday*

*Brother's eye and Splinter Vs My own eye with Wooden beam*

*GOSPEL -  Mt 7:1-5*

*FIRST READING - 2 Kgs 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18*

*1) Splinter and Wooden Beam*

In the context of judging another Jesus uses the two images: Splinter and Wooden Beam

Splinter is a *small, thin, sharp piece of wood, glass, or similar material broken off from a larger piece*

Wooden beam means *a piece of wood, metal or steel which is typically long and squared that can be used as a building material*

*2) Splinter in Brother's eye, Wooden Beam is in my Eye*

When Jesus speaks about these two images, Jesus also tells us the place where these things are found 

According to Jesus, bother these things are found in the eyes 

When these things are found in the eyes, the vision becomes blur and one can't see properly. 

Here one more thing to note, that brother has only a Splinter but my eyes has wooden beam 

*3) Who has a better Vision?*

It is simple and with common sense one can say that the eye which has only Splinter, can see better things than the eye which has wooden beam

Accordingly, my brother or neighbour has a better Vision than me and we need to accept this fact and respect them

*4) The problem with wooden beam*

First of all I need to accept that my eye has this wooden beam

Secondly, when there is a wooden beam in the eye, it completely disturbs the vision of the eye and eye is not able to see or perceive anything

Thirdly keeping wooden beam in my eye, it is impossible to remove splinter from my brother's eye 

At times many people make this useless effort to remove the splinter from their brothers or sisters eyes keeping in their eyes the big Big log of wood 

*5) The various wooden beams in my Life*

Whe we talk about the wooden beam, we can imagine the size and hugeness of the wooden beam

This wooden beam not only found in our eyes, but it is also found in our minds, hearts, in our attitudes and in our behaviour. 

Accordingly we can identify the various wooden beams in the following way 

Arrogance

Anger

Revenge

Greed

Anxiety

Jealousy

Gossip

Selfishness

Desire for worldly things

All these are huge wooden beams which are found in our lives 

*6) Repair of the self is needed, to repair others self*

Removing of the wooden beam is very necessary, for ones own gowth in perceiving the realities in a better way 

Keeping the wooden beam in ones eye and trying to remove the splinter from ones brother's eye is a contradiction

It should be other way around. 

*7) Allow your brother to remove the Wooden beam in your eye*

Instead of keeping the wooden beam, and trying to remove splinter from the brother's eye, allow your brother to remove the wooden beam which is there in your eye 

This is because, your brother with Splinter in his eyes has in a better position to remove the wooden beam in your eye.  

Am I ready to allow my brother to remove the wooden beam in my eye? 

*8) The message of the Wooden Beam*

It is very clear from Jesus' teaching that the major problem is found with the self and not with others 

Wooden beam is always found in my eye and not in others eye. Others eye has only the splinter.

If one is able to accept this fact, one will not judge the other 

What is my position???

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*