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Do not scrutinize so closely whether you are doing much or little, ill or well, so long as what you do is not sinful and that you are heartily seeking to do everything for God. Try as far as you can to do everything well, but when it is done, do not think about it. Try, rather, to think of what is to be done next. Go on simply in the Lord's way, and do not torment yourself. We ought to hate our faults,
but with a quiet, calm hatred; not pettishly and anxiously.
- St. Francis de Sale
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1 COR 9:16-19, 22B-27; PS 84:3, 4, 5-6, 12
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.”
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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Jesus “used images in speaking to them: ‘Can a blind man act as guide to a blind man?’ ” —Luke 6:39
Jesus noted the obvious: a blind person can’t lead a blind person. This can be applied spiritually. Those “blinded by the god of the present age” (2 Cor 4:4) disqualify themselves from being effective leaders in the secular world and especially in the Christian community. The blinding god of the present age is materialism, secular humanism, and the self-centered lifestyle. If we don’t let ourselves be crucified to this
pleasure-seeking way of life (see Gal 6:14), then we cannot see well enough to lead anyone.
If we are not blind but our vision is impaired because of a plank in our eye, we are not immediately disqualified from leading. However, we must put any leadership on hold until we remove the plank from our eye through repentance. Then we can take the lead in removing specks from others’ eyes (Lk 6:42).
In summary, true leadership requires radical and repeated repentance. Without deep repentance, we will never be good husbands, wives, parents, priests, pastors, or pastoral leaders. Leaders don’t have to be perfect, dynamic, or brilliant, but they must be repentant enough to see spiritually. Repent and lead.
Prayer: Father, for Your sake, my sake, and the sake of those I love and lead, may I repent today and go to Confession as soon as possible.
Promise: “In fact, I do all that I do for the sake of the gospel in the hope of having a share in its blessings.” —1 Cor 9:23
Presentation Ministries
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Abandonment to Divine Providence
- by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
BOOK II,
CHAPTER III. THE TRIALS CONNECTED WITH THE STATE OF ABANDONMENT
SECTION V. The Life of Faith
The fruit of these trials. The conduct of the submissive soul.
Martha tried to please Jesus by cooking nice dishes, but Mary was content to be with Jesus in any way that He wished to give Himself to her; but when Mary sought Him in the garden according to the idea she had formed of Him, He eluded her by presenting Himself in the form of a gardener. The Apostles saw Jesus, but mistook Him for a phantom. God disguises Himself, therefore, to raise the soul to the state of pure faith,
to teach it to find Him under every kind of appearance; for, when it has discovered this secret of God, it is in vain for Him to disguise Himself; it says, "He is there, behind the wall, He is looking through the lattice, looking from the windows‚" (Cant. ii, 9). Oh! divine Love, hide yourself, proceed from one trial to another, bind by attractions; blend, confuse, or break like threads all the ideas and methods of the soul. May it stray hither and thither for want of light, and be unable to see
or understand in what path it should walk; formerly it found You dwelling in Your ordinary guise, in the peaceful repose of solitude and prayer, or in suffering; even in the consolations You give to others, in the course of conversation, or in business; but now after having tried every method known to please you, it has to stand aside not seeing You in any of these things as in former times. May the uselessness of its efforts teach it to seek You henceforth in Yourself, which means to seek You
everywhere, in all things without distinction and without reflexion; for, oh divine Love! what a mistake it is, not to find you in all that is good, and in every creature.
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