Are you looking through the circus mirror of forgiveness?

THE STARTING PLACE FOR CORRECTIONS

Lk. 6:39-45

Very often we think that people could make the world a better place by simply changing their own lives.  They don't have to change the world, just change themselves.  That woman at the office, if only she would just stop gossiping, there would be far less friction in the workplace.  My supervisor, if only he would just learn to say "please" and "thank you", my job would be so much easier.   My wife, if she would just stop her constant complaining, home life would be so much better.  My husband, if he could just be a little more thoughtful, our home would be a happier place.  How often we make remarks like these about people.  With a few corrections, they could improve the quality of life for everyone around them.

What about ourselves?  Are we that perfect that we do not need to make corrections in our own lives?  How wisely someone remarked, “When you point your finger at another there are three fingers on the same hand pointing in your direction.” 

Jesus knew people who were judgmental.   They stood ready and felt qualified to help others make those corrections, but overlooked their own faults.  Jesus spoke about a man who offered to help another man get a speck out of his eye, but failed to notice or chose to ignore the plank in his own eye.  Jesus addresses this problem by telling the man to start with himself, "First, get the plank out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to help your neighbour get the speck out of his eye."

Jesus is asking us to search diligently for our own faults and to try and eradicate them.  If we did this then we would have no time to concentrate on the failings of others.  We will find that when we are aware of lessening our own sins and strengthening our weaknesses, we will be slow to judge others and be quick to give others the benefit of the doubt.

This forces us to consider the truth that we are not perfect and that there are problems within ourselves.  So often we think the problem is our spouse, or our neighbour, or our brother or sister, when all the while, the problem is really with me.  We are masters at the art of deceiving ourselves.  This trend goes back a long way, in fact, all the way to the Garden of Eden.  You recall how the story unfolds when Adam and Eve got into trouble.  First, through disobedience and pride their innocence was lost, and they went into hiding.  God asked Adam why he was hiding.  Adam said, "Because I was naked and ashamed."  God said, "Who told you that?  It was never a problem before.  Have you eaten the forbidden fruit?"  Then Adam blamed his wife.  "It wasn't really my fault.  Eve caused the whole thing.”  Then God confronted Eve, and she said it wasn't her fault, the serpent was to blame.  This passing of the buck has been going on since the dawn of creation, but Jesus thought we would be wise to look at ourselves as the source of the problem.

The moment I can admit that I am not perfect, that I have faults then I can start working on them.  The starting place for correction is right here inside of me and I will do something about it.  It is from that moment I start becoming a nicer person and a better one to live with. 

Lord Jesus, how true are Your words, "First get the plank out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour's eye."

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