“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Luke 6:37-38, 41)
How easily we see faults in others! And how often the faults we see in others are really our own worst faults. It is true. If you think someone is being too controlling, examine yourself and make sure that you don’t share in that fault. Jesus warned us to remove the beam from our eye before worrying about the speck in our neighbor’s eye.
The Lord has been so generous to us… each of us. Can we truly believe that we are deserving of His love? Can we truly say that we understand and sufficiently appreciate the depth of that love—a love that led our God to become one of us and to suffer and die for us? This act of God shows His perfect humility and His generosity of spirit. God has made us in His image and likeness. We only find joy and peace when we are true to this image and likeness.
Do you find that your life lacks joy and peace? Then ask for the grace to be loving, generous, compassionate and understanding towards others.
Remember, you are dust, and to dust you will return. Repent and believe in the Gospel.
Deacon Bickerstaff is available to speak at your parish or event. Be sure to check out his Speaker Page to learn more. Into the Deep is a regular feature of the The Integrated Catholic Life™.
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