DAILY HOMILIES #examination of conscience

Jesus is unhappy with the Pharisees and lawyers because instead of leading people to God, they did the opposite. Jesus’ stern condemnation of these religious leaders calls for a serious examination of conscience on our part. Am I a light for the world or just part of the darkness? Is my life inspiring people to do good or to do evil? Am I a good leader?

A blind man cannot lead a blind man. To be a good leader, one must be above his followers. You must have a vision, see the future you intend to create, and ensure your followers see it. You cannot be a good leader if you cannot see beyond your followers. Perhaps this explains our situation in this country. Why doesn’t it seem as though we are in a pit?

Jesus’s words must never be taken out of context. Jesus is not against the use of titles. No. Jesus is against answering a name that your actions contradict. Don’t call me Father if I am not behaving like one. I don't deserve such titles if I do not practice what I preach. Jesus is against the worship of human beings. If I do what is wrong, be bold enough to call and correct me. Do not say: “Leave him alone. He is next to God.” Jesus says: “Call no man on earth your God. You have only One God who is in heaven!”

Stay calm when everything is not in place in your life. Say to yourself: “It does not matter.” I may not have any money in the bank, I may not have food in the kitchen, I may not be successful in my business, I may not have any true friends or connections, I may not have a PhD, I may not have built a house, bought a car or married, I may not have children of my own, or achieved anything significant even in life, but it doesn’t matter. The only thing that counts is that I will be found worthy of eternal life if I die.

In the case of Abram, God wanted him to leave his Father’s house. In your case, God might want you to go through a particular sinful relationship or stop a bad habit. God might want you to take your prayer life more seriously. Whatever the content of your call will be, it will be so clear that you will know it is coming from God.

A blind man cannot lead a blind man. They would both fall into a ditch. Before attempting to correct a person, make sure you are not guilty of the same sin.

Wash the inside of your cup. Believe that you can do without sin. Make efforts like the men who brought their paralytic friend to Jesus through the roof. Let Jesus see your faith and He would reward you with grace to overcome temptation. Don’t look down on yourself.

The truth is that most of us do not even care to know what is inside of us. We barely examine our hearts. This is why we easily notice the specks in other people’s eyes but are blind to the logs in our eyes. (Cf. Matthew 7:3-5).

If we truly examine ourselves, we would arrive at the ugly truth – that we are not as good as think we are – that we are not different from the rest of men – that if given the same opportunities and circumstances, we would even do worse.

In the case of Abram, God wanted him to leave his Father’s house. In your case, it might be that God wants you to leave a particular sinful relationship or stop a bad habit. It might be that God wants you to take your prayer life more seriously and so on.

The hypocrite knows the house is dirty and smelling, he goes ahead to paint the outside walls but allows the inside to decay even more. The Christian knows the house is dirty and smelling, he begins the washing from the inside gradually, cleans everywhere before painting the outside.

Knowing the weaknesses of others should not make us puffed with pride, it should make us think of ways to help them up. This requires humility; humility to know that your level in life came not by your power but by the grace of God and others who helped you in the past.