Gospel: Lk 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.”
* * *
In order to participate in the building of God’s Kingdom, the disciples should learn from Jesus. Thus, the student-disciples undergo formation of character and attitude, of religious and spiritual values from Jesus, the “Good Teacher,” before they can speak in his behalf. In a word, one cannot give what one does not have.
Having acquired the mind, the heart, and spiritual vision of the Master Jesus, the disciples can then assume to be teachers like him. Pope Paul VI says, “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 41). In a similar way, the great Mahatma Gandhi admonishes his followers, “If you want to change the world, start with yourself.”
* * *
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
