Reflection for Friday,  23rd Week of Ordinary Time 

By


  Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Director, Social Action Movement, Don Bosco Bidar 

Today's WORD of GOD

 Luke 6: 39 - 42 


 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?  disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.  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?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.

 Today's Reflection 


 Leadership & Liberty 

The Readings Today have Direct Relevance for People in Leadership Roles, but They also Apply to All Human Relationships. Those who Serve as Leaders whether in CHURCH, Civil Service or Business, should See Themselves Not as “Superiors” who Command “Subjects” but as Coordinators in a Shared Project, where the Gifts of Each Team Member are Respected & Given Room to Flourish.

Paul Describes His Energetic Role as Servant/Leader, Helped in His Missionary Work by a Divine Impulse. He Feels that Sharing the Gospel with Others is a Commission Entrusted to Him by GOD, & He Feels Driven to Carry It Out, whatever Sacrifices It Involves. In order 2b All the More Free for Apostolic Work He has Remained Celibate, “Free from All Men.” He even Claims to Make Himself a Slave to All, Adapting to the Needs of Each Group of People. Yet even a Leader of such Overflowing Zeal can have His Own Problems. Sometimes He can Appear Arrogant, Demanding & Difficult. 

He Feels that He must Discipline His Body & Subdue It, so that He can Practice what He Preaches. His Public Self-Examination is a Lesson in Religious Leadership. 

In HIS Parable about the Blind Leading the Blind, JESUS Teaches Us to Respect, Admire & Learn from Each Other’s Gifts. Otherwise, in Our Ignorance We will be Proud & Arrogant, like a Blind Man Trying to Guide Another. 

Each of Us Needs the Insights of Others to Balance Our Own Views & Judgments. It is Hard for a Learned Person to Take Advice from Another, No Matter how Experienced the Other may be. 

We Need Mutual & Sincere Interaction in the CHURCH to Keep Us on the Right Path to Community & Eternal Life.

Beware of Judging Others

Our Limited Insight into Each Other Makes It Hard to Lead Others in a Way that is Fair & Just. 

We may be Tempted to Think that We See so much More Clearly what Needs 2b Done.

JESUS Suggests that We are All Blind to Some Degree, so It could be like the Blind Leading the Blind rather than the Wise Leading the Foolish. 

Changing the Metaphor, HE Gives Us the Comic Scenario of Someone Trying to Take a Splinter Out of a Neighbour’s Eye while Being Oblivious of the Much Larger Hazard in His Own Eye.

HE had Earlier Stated that GOD, who Does See Clearly into Every heart, is Compassionate & Merciful to All, even the Ungrateful & the Wicked. We Need to Take Our Lead from GOD who Sees All Things Clearly, & Be Merciful on that Account.


 Have a pleasant day

Praying that you may enjoy good health