The Speck

By Marie Tan-Hancock 

Here's a snippet of today's Holy Gospel,  "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.”

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The specks on our eyes often blind us to guide another blind person to Jesus. Again, in this parable, Jesus mentioned the words "you hypocrite!" Jesus called us hypocrites because He knows all our hearts. Nevertheless, even how many times we hear His words, still we do not take them wholeheartedly and seriously.

 Why is that? 

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In the second reading, Paul said these words "I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord,

because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry.

I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief.

Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."

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Through St. Paul's admission of who he was in the past, I was also guided to find myself, who I was, from the past to my present. Since very young I was glued to the healing ministry of Jesus in our parish, and the parishes  where I belonged every time I moved. Though I fell countless times, but I always got up, continued to carry my cross and never quit following Jesus. There were many transformations and losses until I  finally chose Jesus: I lost a few friends but I found new ones. I saw the simplicity of the world around me. I was made new. I found peace. 

As your life changes with Christ, many will criticize you, gossip about you, and say bad things about you as you serve our Lord and Savior. 

But whatever happens my friends, pray unceasingly, pray for those who persecute you and continue in your service to Christ. In the past centuries, those who follow Jesus were persecuted and became martyrs in their faith. 

 Each of us must take off the specks in our eyes first, and help others see the path to Jesus. It’s not easy, but with our difficulties, we can see and feel God in everything. He is always there covering us with His love, abundant grace and mercy. With God, there's nothing impossible. Don't be afraid of your sins. You don’t need to understand anything, just keep your faith simple: and you'll be fine.

Let us be led by the same principles of St. Paul in finding our way to Jesus, who is the way, the truth and the life. 

Firstly, take time to quiet down and to listen to yourself. Pray from the heart and check the specks in your eyes, so you will see Jesus in everything around you. Let us receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and forgive "seventy times seven" every day.

God bless us all!

Marie Tan-Hancock is a self published author of psycho-spiritual healing books, giving free motivational talk and consultation about elderly care for seniors, their families, caregivers, & to the disabled population. Marie has worked as a Direct Caregiver, Client Supervisor, Rehabilitation Coordinator, and Behavioral Therapist to non profit organizations and agencies for elderly. She is also an entrepreneur. She obtained her Masters in Counseling Psychology from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont,CA.