HOW TO BE A GOOD GUIDE

Eight Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Luke 6:39-45 Some people may judge us by our appearance. Others through the types of gadgets we possess. But how do we really get to know a person? Our first reading tells us that the interior defines the exterior. To know someone it requires us to discover their heart. Wait for the person to open his mouth because “Man can be detected in what he says.” Friends, speech is not just about words and sounds but can be the guiding principle to know one’s heart. Speech is the mirror of the soul. Let us then be careful because our speech can affect the lives of others. Be mindful of the value of human speech. Friends, how pure is your interior? When your heart is troubled your speech is grumbled. “For the mouth speaks from the fullness of the heart.” How to purify our hearts? Three points we need to consider. First, we need a good guide. “A blind person cannot guide another blind.” Second, we need to get out from the trap of selfrigteousness. Sometimes we are quick to judge but slow to correct ourselves. It’s so easy to see the sin of someone else and point it out but often more difficult to see our own sin. “Friends, being selfrighteous is hypocrisy. Hypocrites are those who conveniently forget their faults to point out someone else. Better to be known as humble sinner than a selfrighteous hypocrite. Counting other peole’s sins does not makes us a saint. Inshort, do not judge another person for what we see in others ussually exist in us. Let us examine our own sins, failures and mistakes. Friends, don’t find fault, find a remedy. Finally, let us use our speech to produce good words. Lord please clean my heart so that my words and deeds may glorify you. Blessings Fr. Jhack