FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Joshua 5:9, 10-12; Psalm 34:2-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is called Laetare Sunday (Sunday of Joy). 'Laetare,' Latin word, meaning ‘rejoice’ is the first word of today’s Mass entrance antiphon, “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who were in mourning; exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast” (Isaiah 66:10-11). In the past, the Lenten season used to be very austere. The Fourth Sunday of Lent, being a mid-way of the Lenten season, used to be a day to relax the austere practices and celebrate. Laetare Sunday foreshadows the hope and joy that await us at Easter as we continue our Lenten journey.

On arrival in the Promised Land, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. Before the celebration of the Passover, God commanded Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise Israel… None of those born in the wilderness during the journey after the departure from Egypt were circumcised… When the circumcision of the entire nation was complete, they remained in camp where they were, until they recovered. Then the Lord said to Joshua: Today, I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you” (Joshua 5:1-9).

The circumcision is a sign of cleansing and reconciliation with God. In the same way, we are required to go through spiritual circumcision, that is the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as we journey through the Lenten season and as we prepare to celebrate Easter. If physical circumcision was capable of removing the “reproach of Egypt” and sanctifying the entire nation; even more so the Sacrament of Reconciliation is capable of obtaining forgiveness and removing the reproach of our sins. The power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is as St. Paul states in the second reading: It makes us new creatures in Christ, old things pass away, and new things come. St. Paul continues, “All this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation…”  Therefore, the ministry of reconciliation is God’s creation, not the Church!

God said to Joshua, “Today, I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.” We stand on this word of God and pray that God makes the same declaration upon us. Let us present to God our various ‘reproaches’ inflicted on us by difficulties of life. We pray that God removes them as he removed that of the Israelites. Amen.

One more lesson from the first reading: “On the day after the Passover they ate of the produce of the land in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain. On that same day after they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased. No longer was there manna for the Israelites, who [from] that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan” (Joshua 5:11-12). This means that “manna” does not fall forever. Some children, some young people, some adults, some organizations, some countries, and some leaders lack this wisdom. The blessings, talents, time, opportunities, and resources God gives us must not be taken for granted or waisted but be well appropriated since at a certain time, “manna” will cease to fall.

We have a lot to learn from the four individuals in today’s gospel reading.

The servant was hasty with his response to the question of the older brother. The servant’s emphasis on the slaughtering of the fattened calf was a trigger and setting a fire. “Your brother has returned, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf…” He was not asked about the fattened calf. Proverbs 10:19 says, “Where words are many sin is not wanting.” St. James says, “The tongue is a fire” (James 3:6). We pray with Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard, Lord, before my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips.”

The older brother represents the Pharisees, the scribes, and the chief priests who did not believe that there was salvation for tax collectors, sinners, and the Gentiles. Like the older brother, they were “angry and refused to enter the house…” Jesus is the ‘house.’ In our time, the older brother represents people who write off others. The older brother represents people who work very hard but are very unhappy, full of complaints, envy, resentment, anger, and grudges.

The father never gave up on his lost son. He celebrated his return and restored him to his former princely position. The finest robe means restoring his royalty. The ring on his finger means renewing the father-son covenant broken by the son’s departure. Sandals on his feet means restoring the son’s lost confidence. He granted his son unconditional forgiveness. God does not give up on us. He forgives us unconditionally when we make a true contrition. And Jesus teaches us to forgive others as God forgives us (Luke 11:4).

The prodigal son represents the tax collectors, the sinners, and the Gentiles who came to believe in Jesus and followed him. The prodigal son’s ability to come to his senses, rise above shame and guilt, and return to his father is very remarkable. A person can only be written off if the person writes himself or herself off. The prodigal son encourages and inspires us not to remain where we have fallen or in our sin or guilt or wound or setback of the past. Jesus’ rising after three falls as depicted in the Stations of the Cross teaches us that fall is not failure. Failure is the inability to rise when one falls.

The Lenten season of grace is a time for spiritual circumcision. It is a time to come to our senses and rise up from where we have fallen.

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15; Psalm 103:1-4, 6-8, 11; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9

The first reading is about the call of Moses. Moses had fled from Egypt to Midian. There, he was tending the flock of his father-in-law. While in the region of Mount Horeb, he was called by God in an extraordinary way. Moses saw a fire flaming out of a bush, but the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. Moses decided to go and see why the bush was not burned. When Moses came near, God called him from the bush, ‘“Moses! Moses!’ He answered, ‘I am here.’ God said, ‘Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. …’” God, then, gave Moses the mission to go and get the Israelites out of Egypt.

The hymn, “Holy Ground,” comes to mind:

This is holy ground

We're standing on holy ground

For the Lord is present

And where He is is holy

This is holy ground

We're standing on holy ground

For the Lord is present

And where He is is holy

It is important to remind ourselves that the Catholic Church teaches that the burning bush experience gives us a good understanding of the dogma of the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As the bush burned without being consumed by fire, so Mary conceived Jesus without losing her virginity.

We need not wait for God to call us in an extraordinary way as he called Moses. The Spirit of God may be ministering to our hearts and sending us on a mission to free someone in an affliction or to rescue a situation or to perform a good work. Our excuses and reluctance are the ‘sandals’ on our feet. Some of us are wearing really oversized and heavy ‘sandals’ that prevent us from lifting our feet to doing what God wants us to do.

When the Spirit of God ministers a call in our hearts, let us not reject the call. Let us, rather, pray for the grace we need. St. Bernardine of Siena writes, “This is a general rule that applies to a rational creature. Whenever divine grace selects someone to serve a particular grace or some especially favored position, all the gifts for his state are given to that person and enrich him abundantly.” Simply put, when God gives us a mission, he gives us the grace. God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 2:9).

The ‘sandals’ on our feet are our sins and weaknesses that prevent us from coming close to God. During the Lenten journey, we are invited to remove those ‘sandals.’ The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a great opportunity. Further, we are invited to reconcile and make peace with one another. Jesus warns us in the gospel not to delay to return to God. We are old enough to die as soon as we are conceived in our mothers’ womb. Everyone is only a step away from death. Jesus reminds us that death can be very sudden like those killed when the Tower of Siloam fell on them. St. Paul writes in the second reading, “These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us ... Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12).

The gospel reminds us that although we are sinners and unworthy, yet God gives us opportunities to return to him, or to become what he wants us to become, or to make progress, or rise to greater heights, or to break new grounds, or to bear fruits. Let us not waste such opportunities because some missed opportunities are rare to come by. A proverb says, “Make hay while the sun shines.”

The gospel is also a reminder that we need to be patient with ourselves and with one another and support one another in every way possible. Someone writes, “Be patient with slow growers, late bloomers, and those unseeing.” St. Paul advises us, “We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves; let each of us please our neighbor for the good, for building up” (Romans 15:1-2). Barbara Lee wrote a book she titled, “God Isn’t Finished With Me Yet,” where she encourages us that God does meet us with unexpected grace where we do not foresee it, and when we do not give up.

We are challenged with various invitations on this third week of Lent. Some of us are invited to remove oversized and heavy ‘sandals’ in order to repent from sin and come nearer to God. Some of us are encouraged to accept God’s invitation to do good. Some of us are challenged to rise to greater height. Some of us are invited not to despair or give up. Some of us are encouraged to be patient with ourselves and with others. Some of us are warned not to be overconfident lest we fall. Do you find yourself in any of the invitations?

God said to Moses, “I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry of complaint … I know well what they are suffering.” O God, hear our cry of complaint and save us as you saved your people. Amen.

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18; Psalm 27:7-9, 13-14; Philippians 3:17-41; Luke 9:28-36

In some ancient cultures, including the Aramean culture where Abram belonged, when two parties or individuals made a covenant, they cut an animal into half, arranged the halves on two sides, and the parties or the individuals who made the covenant passed through between the animal parts. This ritual sealed the covenant. Passing through between the animal parts arranged on two sides was a way of swearing that what happened to the animal might happen to anyone who violated the covenant (Jeremiah 34:18-20).

This ritual seems, partly, to be what is described in the first reading. “Abram brought all these, split them in two, placed each half opposite the other…When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking fire pot and flaming torch, which passed between those pieces. It was on that occasion that the Lord made a covenant with Abram…” The smoking fire pot and flaming torch, which passed between the animal parts, can be said to represent God’s divine presence. We believe that Abram passed through between the animal parts before his trance.

The first reading is not a study of ancient Aramean’s way of making a covenant. It is a reminder of our various covenants with God. For instance, in baptismal covenant, we are initiated as followers of Christ. But many times, we fall short of our baptismal promises: to reject Satan and to renounce sin; and to believe in God, in Jesus, and in the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we are called during the holy season of Lent to renew our baptismal covenant with God. The Sacrament of Baptism is the foundation of all other Sacraments.

Very importantly, the Lenten season draws us deep into the mystery of Christ’s passion and death. Christ’s passion and death are beautifully demonstrated by the Stations of the Cross, which we are encouraged to attend during the Lenten season. Abram sacrificed animals, but Jesus sacrificed himself. He shed his Blood on the cross as an eternal covenant for the forgiveness of our sins (Hebrews 13:20). It is wonderful to behold heroic sacrifices of people who help others or who sacrifice their lives for the sake of others. What sacrifice do I make for the sake of others?

We do not belong to those who St. Paul describes in the second reading as, “Their God is their stomach … Their minds are occupied with earthly things” (Philippians 3:19). Jesus says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20). He also says, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9).

Today’s gospel is about the Transfiguration of Jesus. To transfigure means to transform appearance to reveal hidden beauty. This was what happened to Jesus while he was praying on the mountain; “his face changed in appearance, and his clothing became dazzling white.” The glory and magnificence of Jesus which were hidden from the world were revealed. We pray to transfigure from difficulties, sins, and weaknesses that hide our physical and spiritual beauty so that we may dazzle and reveal God’s beauty in us.

May I invite us to pray this Litany of Transfiguration with me.

We pray to transfigure from sin to repentance, from weakness to strength,

from fear to courage; from bad health to good health,

from ugliness to beauty, from disappointment to satisfaction,

from failure to success, from sorrow to joy,

from disharmony to harmony, from enmity to friendliness,

from lack of faith to strong faith, from inactivity to activity,

from apathy to action, from condemnation to blessing,

from darkness to light, from blindness to sight,

from stagnancy to freshness, from dryness to fruitfulness,

from emptiness to fullness, from crises to peace,

from hate to love, from jealousy to admiration,

from unforgiveness to reconciliation, from exclusion to inclusion,

from defeat to victory, from shame to honor,

from hidden to revealed, from ignorance to knowledge,

from poverty to riches, from losing to finding,

from destruction to restoration, from anger to calmness,

from bondage to freedom, from problem to solution,

from injustice to justice, from misfortune to fortune,

from despair to confidence, from fall to rise,

from danger to safety, from defenseless to protected,

from mourning to gladness, from incompletion to completion,

from lies to truth, from foolishness to wisdom,

from pride to humility, from disobedience to obedience,

from disagreement to agreement, from loss to profit,

from decrease to increase, from low to high,

from sealed to unseal, from closed to open,

from death to life, from helplessness to miracle.

(You may add your own prayer.)

In today’s gospel, God speaks from heaven, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him” (Luke 9:35). Jesus confirms the transformative power of his words in John 6:63. He says, “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). May we become listeners and doers of his words. That is the greatest transfiguration!

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR C, 2024 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Deuteronomy 26:4-10; Psalm 91:1-2, 10-13; Romans 10:8-13; Luke 4:1-13 

Let us begin this homily with a summary of Pope Francis’ 2025 Lenten Message. He titles the message, “Let Us Journey Together in Hope.” First, Pope Francis calls us to conversion by challenging us to ask ourselves, “Am I really on a journey, or am I standing still, not moving, either immobilized by fear and hopelessness or reluctant to move out of my comfort zone? Am I seeking ways to leave behind the occasions of sin and situations that degrade my dignity?” Second, the Pope calls us “to work together … to walk at the side of others, and never as lone travelers. …” The Pope explains, “It means walking side-by-side, without shoving or stepping on others, without envy or hypocrisy, without letting anyone be left behind or excluded. Let us all walk in the same direction, tending towards the same goal, attentive to one another in love and patience.” Third, Pope Francis urges us to “journey together in hope.” He says, “May the hope that does not disappoint (Romans 5:5), the central message of the Jubilee be the focus of our Lenten journey towards the victory of Easter.”

Moses did not reach the Promised Land. However, he set for the Israelites laws and directives they were to keep in the Promised Land that would guide their relationship with God and with one another. The first reading was a pronouncement to be made during the feast of harvest thanksgiving. The pronouncement summarizes Israel’s history and journey with God, from their ancestors to their settling in the Promised Land. The offering of the first fruits from one’s farm and the pronouncement were an expression of gratitude to God for his blessings. The reading encourages us to be grateful to God for his love and mercy, and to express our gratitude practically by offering to the Church of God from the blessings we have received.

On offering to the Church, Sirach 35:6-13 says, “Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed, for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the precepts. The offering of the just enriches the altar: a sweet odor before the Most High. The sacrifice of the just is accepted, never to be forgotten. With a generous spirit pay homage to the Lord, and do not spare your freewill gifts. With each contribution show a cheerful countenance and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy. Give to the Most High as he has given to you, generously, according to your means. For he is a God who always repays and will give back to you sevenfold.” The Church uses the offerings to serve humanity, carry out the work of evangelization, and build up God’s kingdom here on earth.

The devil does not want us to have a good relationship with God. He comes with all kinds of temptations to draw us away from God. The gospel story of the temptation of Jesus by the devil shows us some of the subtle ways the devil tempts us. The first temptation shows us that the devil tempts us through our desires, to seek and acquire our desires through improper means (turn stone to bread). The second temptation shows us that the devil tempts us to worship worldly things, or derive power and fame from them rather than from God (“I shall give you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish”). The third temptation shows how the devil tempts us to engage in harmful and dangerous ambitious activities with concealed disastrous consequences (throw yourself down from the pinnacle of the temple and expecting angels to catch you).

The three temptations can be summarized as ungodly quests for wealth, for power, and for miracle. Jesus teaches us that when we put God aside and pursue wealth, power, and miracle, we become agents and tools of the devil.

If the devil tempted Jesus, who is God, he will tempt us more who are mere human beings. In the Book of Job, “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you been?’ Then the Satan answered …  ‘Roaming the earth and patrolling it”’ (Job 2:2). This is why 1 John 5:19 warns, “We know that we are children of God, [but] the whole world is under the control [constant attack] of the evil one.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 also warns, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith…” St. Augustine encourages us where he writes, “Our pilgrim life here on earth cannot be without temptation, for it is through temptation that we make progress, and it is only by being tempted that we come to know ourselves.” The following words from the second reading are very encouraging, “No one who believes in [Jesus] will be put to shame… For every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:11, 13). Hebrews 2:18 assures us, “Because he himself was tempted through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”  In Jesus, we triumph over every temptation as he himself did. 

I wish you all a spirit-filled and a fruitful Lenten season.

ASH WEDNESDAY, YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Joel 2:12-18; Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14, 17; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Lenten season, 46 days before Easter. However, Lent is 40 days since six Sundays in the season of Lent are not supposed to be fast days and are not counted. Each Sunday is a feast day, a mini-remembrance of Jesus’ resurrection.

There is an explanation that the word “Lent” comes from an Old English word “Lencten” referring to the lengthening of daylight during the spring season. After days of short daylight and nights of long dark night of the winter season, the spring season brings days of long daylight and nights of short dark night. Also, after the harsh winter season when vegetation appears dried up, during the spring season, trees, plants, and flowers begin to grow and bloom; many animals wake up from hibernation; many animals shed their furs; many animals change their coloration; many animals give birth.  For us, it is a time emerge from winter spiritual dryness to spiritual spring. It is a time of spiritual renewal.

The 40 days of Lent represent the 40 years the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land, and the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert before his ministry. On our part, our journey and our desert are of REPENTANCE, PRAYER, FASTING, and ALMSGIVING. The first reading invites us, “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning. Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God” (Joel 2:12-13).

ASH AS A SYMBOL REPENTANCE: The ash, traditionally, from the burnt palms of last year's Palm Sunday that is marked on our forehead symbolizes contrition and repentance, which is why the day is called Ash Wednesday. Ash as a sign of contrition and repentance goes back to the Old Testament. Job prayed, “I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6). “… the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. … [The king] rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes” (Jonah 3:5-6).

When ashes are distributed, the priest or his assistant says, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” This reminds us Jesus’ first words when he began his ministry: “This is a time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15). Or the priests or his assistant says “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” (Gen 3:19). Do we remember? 

We abstain from meat and food that contains meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as a reverence to Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. Abstaining from meat is also an act of contrition and penance.

PRAYER: Why do we have to pray? We pray to keep us in constant communion with God and submission to God. We are empowered spiritually by prayer. Jesus cautioned Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32). He also cautioned his disciples, “Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Further, prayer drives out the Evil One and his agents. “… his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive it out? He said to them, ‘This kind can only come out through prayer’” (Mark 9:29).

FASTING: There are reasons for Lenten fasting. It is a way of prayer as Jesus did (Matthew 4:2). It is a way of penance and repentance as the people of Nineveh did. It is a way of self-denial and sacrifice. Fasting is not only from food and depriving ourselves of necessities, it includes, as Pope Francis advises, from sins and attitudes. The Pope says,  

• Fast from hurting words and say kind words.

• Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.

• Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

• Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

• Fast from worries and have trust in God.

• Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.

• Fast from pressures and be prayerful.

• Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.

• Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.

• Fast from grudges and be reconciled.

• Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.

ALMSGIVING: Lenten observance must include works of charity. God gives us what we have, not only for us, but to share with others, especially the needy. “Prayer with fasting is good. Almsgiving with righteousness is better than wealth with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to store up gold, for almsgiving saves from death, and purges all sin” (Tobit 12:8-10).

The second reading of Office of Readings, Tuesday, Third Week of Lent begins with the following words: “There are three things, my brethren, by which faith stands firm, devotion remains constant, and virtue endures. They are prayer, fasting and mercy. Prayer knocks at the door, fasting obtains, mercy receives. Prayer, mercy and fasting: these three are one, and they give life to each other.” In order words, prayer knocks at the door, fasting opens the door, mercy receives!

In addition to the above-mentioned spiritual duties and exercises, from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday, we are encouraged to attend Stations of the Cross, Lenten Retreat, Penitential Service, Sacrament of Reconciliation and attend more Masses. Lenten journey is a journey of faith and a journey of spiritual renewal. We pray for a Spirit-filled and a fruitful Lenten season. Amen.

EIGHT SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Sirach 27:4-7; Psalm 92:2-3, 13-16; 1 Corinthians 15:54-58; Luke 6:39-45

The first reading and the gospel bring to my mind the words of Jesus in Matthew 15:11, 18-19, “It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles that person; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one … But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, false witness, blasphemy.” This is why Psalm 51:12 prays, “A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit.” 

Chickens incubate their eggs by sitting on them to keep them warm and turning them regularly. This process is called brooding. After a period of time, the eggs hatch into chicks. This process happens to us concerning unresolved evil thoughts stored in our hearts. They are only brooding and will surely come out of our mouth or manifest in our attitude sometime, somewhere. Sometimes, they come out or manifest in a surprising or even embarrassing manner.

This is why the first reading warns us, “When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear, so do one’s fault when one speaks…. The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had; so too does one’s speech disclose the bent of one’s mind” (Sirach 27:4 & 6). The heart is described as the center of vitality of our spiritual and physical body. What is stored in the heart pilots our spiritual and physical behaviors. Therefore, what we feed our hearts with and what we store in our hearts reflect not only in what our mouth speaks but also in our behaviors. Whereby a person feeds his or her heart with dirty, filthy, violent, fake, false, and ungodly materials, these vices do reflect in the person’s communication and behavior. That is why St. Paul instructs us to fill our hearts with whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, and whatever admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).

Whatever is stored in the heart either sanctifies or defiles the soul and the body. It is what we have that we give. In today’s gospel, Jesus says, “A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of the store of evil produces evil; from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). Jesus says, Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). What would Jesus say about the impure of heart?

Jesus invites us to another act of inward-looking. He says, “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 perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?’” This statement does not mean that we do not speak the truth, or do not correct one another, or do not encourage one another to do the right thing, rather, by this statement, Jesus invites us to look inward ourselves more than paying so much attention and being overly critical of other persons’ faults, wrongs, and sins. Jesus instructed us last Sunday to stop judging and to stop condemning (Luke 6:37). St. Paul adds, “For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things” (Romans 2:1). This is the sin of hypocrisy Jesus cautions us about. We often say, “When a person points one accusing finger at someone, the other fingers point at the accuser.” 

Socrates says, “To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.” Self-knowledge helps us to recognize and acknowledge God’s grace in our life and be able to understand others more, show empathy, and be less judgmental to them. St. Paul advises us, “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves” (Romans 15:1). A political prisoner, John Bradford, while witnessing a public execution in the Tower of London around 1553, is attributed to have said, “There but for the grace of God, go I.” Does this remark challenge us concerning how we perceive and judge others? 

Finally, instead of concentrating our attention on the faults, wrongs, and sins of others, St. Paul advises us in the second reading, “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Yes, indeed, our fault finding and being critical of others neither help us nor anyone one. Rather, spending our time fully devoted to the work of the Lord can never be in vain.