A
master was teaching lesson to four of his disciples. He stepped outside with
stern instruction that no one must speak and must study in silence. While they
were studying in silence, the sky turned cloudy. At this first disciple
remarked, ‘it is likely to rain now.’ Listening to him second disciple responded
and said, ‘you shouldn’t have said anything as master has asked us to stay
silent till he come back and how you have disobeyed him.’ The third said to
second one, ‘see, now even you are speaking…’ The three disciples spoke in
master’s absence but the fourth disciple still didn’t say anything and he
silently kept studying that lesson. As soon as master returned, the first one
pointed toward second one and complained that he spoke in his absence. Second one
said, ‘so what? Even you didn’t keep quiet.’ Third one said, ‘master they both
disobeyed you.’ Seeing this master said, ‘it means all three have spoken in my
absence. Only one who obeyed was fourth and he was the only one to follow my
instructions properly. Surely he will be a good disciple and better person.
This
happens with most of us. We focus so much on pointing out others mistakes that
we don’t realize that we ourselves are erred. It is imperative that we address
our own mistakes and correct them. This is the crucial and clear message from
the Gospel today. Jesus is talking through a parable of blind man leading
another blind man. He warns that we must take out the plank in our eyes before
we try to take the speck from others eyes. It comes naturally for anyone of us
to point out others errors and mistakes but it is hard to look or accept our
own errors. Jesus was specifically warning the authorities and leaders of the
community who were the watchdogs and projected righteous people. They invariably
looked down on the poor and lowly by pointing out their mistakes and errors.
This irked Jesus so much he warns them through the parable. It is obvious that
one blind man cannot lead the other blind. It is a tangible parable where it
becomes clearer that Jesus’ warning and lesson is to look and correct one’s
mistakes first.
Hand
gesture suggests that when we point one finger at other rest of the fingers
point toward ourselves. As humans we are bound to make mistakes. If we point
out others mistakes we also much remember that we are potentially also bound to
make those same mistakes. No one is perfect and perfection does not come by
pointing out others mistakes. Perfection is achieved through self-evaluation.
Every mistake that is accepted and corrected is the stepping stone to success.
It is significant that we retrospect, accept and correct our mistakes. In this
way we don’t give leeway to others to point out our mistakes.
Having
said the above, we must remember that constructive pointing out mistakes could
be beneficial and appreciated. This could be done through fraternal correction
for the benefit of a person. For instance, parents have the duty to correct
mistakes of their children. In turn, children have to accept and correct their
mistakes. This is done for the benefit of the person and hence personal growth is
the goal of this correction.
But
on the hand if someone points out mistakes in order to besmirch reputation of
the person, then it is wicked. There is no fraternal correction since person
points out mistakes to ruin the other. This is very rampant in our society,
work place or church. Jesus is sternly warning against this kind of behavior in
people. By all means this kind of people looks for any tiny opportunity to
bring down the other with an evil intention. Many of us probably have witnessed
these sorts of people. Jesus calls them hypocrites. We have to keep them far because
they don’t have our best interest while pointing out our mistakes. This is much
worse when they point out mistakes in the form gossip.
Today,
as we reflect and pray let us self-evaluate how do we point out others
mistakes? Do we point out to make or break the person? If we have been
victimized by people who point out our mistakes, let us treat them like
hypocrites and make every effort to keep them away from our lives.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment