At Mass recently, Father spoke on a passage from the Gospel of Luke:
“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” (Luke 6:41)
His words stayed with me long after I left church. He spoke about how easy it is to become frustrated with others—at their choices, their words, their actions—while failing to recognize the areas in our own hearts that need attention. It’s far simpler to point out someone else’s faults than to sit with the quiet work of tending to our own.
I’ve certainly found myself there. Maybe you have, too.
Perhaps it’s snapping at someone in a moment of stress, not because of what they did, but because of something unsettled within me. Or feeling frustration rise when someone falls short of expectations, while I fail to see where I need patience and grace in my own life.
Lent is a season of reflection, and this passage invites us to turn inward—not with shame or self-criticism, but with an open heart. Instead of dwelling on the faults of others, we can ask ourselves:
- What is clouding my own vision? Maybe it’s resentment, impatience, or a heart that’s weary and in need of rest.
- Am I carrying something heavy that needs my attention? Before reacting outwardly, we can pause and tend to our own spirit.
- How can I respond with love? When we notice our first instinct is to correct or critique, we can shift toward kindness instead.
This doesn’t mean we ignore truth or pretend problems don’t exist. But it does mean that when we respond to others, we do so from a place of clarity rather than frustration, with love rather than judgment.
May we each take time to tend to our own hearts first—so that when we reach out to others, it is with gentleness, understanding, and the kind of love that truly reflects Christ.
Love & Blessings,
Jenny