Read Online
“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not
perceive the wooden beam in your own?” Luke 6:41
Saint Teresa of Ávila, one of the greatest spiritual writers and
doctors of the Church, explains in her spiritual masterpiece
“Interior Castles,” that one of the first steps on the path to
holiness is self-knowledge. Self-knowledge produces humility,
because humility is simply having a true opinion about yourself.
When a person fails to know themself from the true perspective of
the mind of God, then they open themselves up to many errors of
judgment. One such error is that they can easily become fixated
upon their perceived sins of others.
The Gospel passage quoted above depicts a person who gravely lacks
self-knowledge. Why? Because they “do not perceive the wooden beam”
in their own eye, meaning, they do not see their own sin. As a
result, Jesus explains that this person also becomes fixated upon
the “splinter” in their brother’s eye.
When you consider your own thoughts, what do you dwell upon the
most all day long? Do you honestly look inward, seeking to know
yourself as God knows you? Or do you spend excessive time thinking
about others, analyzing and judging their actions? This is an
important question to ask yourself and to answer with
honesty.
The best way to know yourself is to gaze upon Jesus. When He
becomes the focus of your attention throughout the day, you will
not only come to know Him, but you will also come to know yourself
more honestly. Gazing at the beauty and perfection of our Lord will
have the double effect of knowing Him and knowing yourself through
His eyes. It will also help you to know others as He sees
them.
How does Jesus look at those around you? He looks at them with
perpetual mercy. True, at the end of every life, when we pass from
this world to the next, we will encounter our particular judgment
from our Lord. But while here on earth, God continually gazes upon
us with mercy. For that reason, mercy must become our daily
mission, and we must build a habit of gazing upon everyone in our
life with the eyes of mercy.
Reflect, today, upon our Lord. Look at Him, gaze upon Him, seek to
know Him and make Him the focus of your attention. As you do, try
to dismiss from your thinking process your own perceived judgments
of others. Allow your gaze upon our Lord to help you to not only
see Him but to also see others through His eyes. Build this habit
and you will be on the fast track to the path to holiness.
My merciful Jesus, may I build a humble and true habit of gazing
upon You in Your splendor and beauty. As I see You, day in and day
out, please also help me to see myself through Your eyes of mercy
so that I will also grow in humility. Please remove all judgment
from my heart so that I will be free to know and love all people as
You know and love them. Jesus, I trust in You.
Source of content:
catholic-daily-reflections.com
Copyright 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved.
Used with permission via RSS feed.
Featured image above: The Sermon on the Mount
by Fra Angelico, via Wikimedia Commons
Kommentare (0)
Melde dich an, um einen Kommentar zu schreiben.