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Friday, September 11, 2015
1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14, Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 11, Luke 6:39-42
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/091115.cfm
PLANK-EYED
"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?" -Luke 6:42
Jesus says we might have a plank lodged in our eye. If so, He's doing us a big favor to tip us off. We need to remove this plank or we'll blindly fall into the ditches of apathy, sin, hatred, unforgiveness, compulsive behavior, a selfish lifestyle, broken relationships, missed opportunities, or other such pitfalls (Lk 6:39).
If we aren't sure what our plank is, we must ask the Lord to identify it for us. He's surely been trying to tell us how blind we are (see Rv 3:17). If He doesn't tell us directly, it's probably because He's already been speaking to us through our spouses, children, siblings, parents, co-workers, or brothers and sisters in Christ. No doubt they see our plank clearly, and have been trying to tell us about it.
Even if the Lord breaks through our short-sightedness and gets us to see our plank, we might still choose to hold onto it. Because our hearts are hard and twisted (Jer 17:9), we might prefer our familiar plank to a painful removal and a humbling recovery. We might say: "I find the old [way] better" (see Lk 5:39) and prefer the darkness of our plank-eye to the bright light of freedom in Jesus (see Jn 3:19-20).
Jesus is the Carpenter (Mk 6:3), and He knows how to handle planks. Bring your planks, specks, eyes, and life to Jesus. "Fix your eyes on Jesus" (Heb 3:1) and let Him fix your eyes.
Prayer: "Lord, take the blindness from my eyes, all my arrogance and pride, fill my vision with Your light." "Lord...I want to see" (Lk 18:41).
Promise: "Grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord." -1 Tm 1:2
Praise: Peter and Paula did not offer alcohol at their wedding reception, but instead prayed for the Spirit to bless all present.
(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from August 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 18, 2015
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
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