September 10, 2010 - Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time

1 Cor 9:16-19, 22b-27 * Ps 84 * Lk 6:39-42

NO STUDENT IS ABOVE HIS TEACHER

He also used images in speaking to them: "Can a blind man act as guide to a blind man? Will they not both fall into a ditch? A student is not above his teacher; but every student when he has finished his studies will be on a par with his teacher. "Why look at the speck in your brother's eye when you miss the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, "Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye," yet fail yourself to see the plank lodged in your own? Hypocrite, remove the plank from your own eye first; then you will see clearly enough to remove the plank from your brother's eye.

 

A SPIRITUAL BATTLE

Y ears ago, a neighbor near my study, persisted in practicing flute. He bored my ears as with an auger and rendered my mind almost an impossibility to think. Up and down his scale, he ran relentlessly, until even the calamity of my temporary deafness would almost be welcome to me. Yet, he taught me a lesson on how I must also practice my discipleship to Christ, as rigorously as he did. "Every athlete", says St. Paul, "exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable" (1 Cor 9:25). How indefatigable did Paul labour, with what vehemence did he pray! Slander and contempt he bore with utmost patience. Scourging and stoning had no terror for him. Death itself, he defiled, all for the eternal reward. Every Christian is called to fight against evil in themselves and against an ensnaring world, a corrupt flesh and a busy devil. We know that the front lines in a battle are risky, but the battle prize is great. To some, the front line of the good fight may be drawn against an extra minute or two of an indecent TV program or when we battle a surge of self-pity, or of immoral thoughts or words that hurt others. We have to choose our own spiritual weapon, for our warfare is spiritual but real.

(Taken from His Word for Today by Vima Dasan, S.J, published by Paulines. Visit us at www.paulines.ph or at Paulines Media Centers.)

 

Sower’s Thought: "Our life, even if it is short, is long enough if it wins us Paradise. But even if our life is long, it is too short if we fail to reach heaven!" - Blessed James Alberione, Founder of the Pauline Family