My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today's readings at Mass will speak to us about the necessity of personal conversion before we can become fruitful in his vineyard and help others to get closer to him. Saint Paul is consumed with the responsibility of preaching the Gospel, but he knows that the preacher himself must continually be trained and converted. Jesus makes the same point through the memorable image of the splinter and the wooden beam. Before attempting to correct or guide another person, we ought to first look at the beam in our eyes, rather than the splinter in our neighbour's eyes. We cannot effectively lead others somewhere we ourselves are unwilling to go.
Saint Paul today in the first reading, in the First Letter that he sends to the Corinthians, says this: “Brothers and sisters: If I preach the Gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it!” (1 Corinthians 9:16).
Paul does not regard preaching as an opportunity for recognition. The Gospel has been entrusted to him as it has been entrusted to us. And this is a gift, a gift from God that we wish to share with others.
And he goes on to say, “If I do so willingly,” meaning if he preaches willingly, “I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my recompense? That, when I preach, I offer the Gospel free of charge so as not to make full use of my right in the Gospel. Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible” (1 Corinthians 9:17-19).
My brothers and sisters, this is a clear example of how before we go out to others, we ourselves must become servants. We must embrace the road of continual conversion, daily conversion, and persevere in the work of the Holy Spirit within us that seeks to sanctify us.
In the Gospel, Jesus told his disciples a parable. And he asks the question, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?” (Luke 6:39). Jesus begins with the responsibility of anyone who tries to guide another. Good intentions are not enough. Before leading someone else, I must first be able to see where I am going.
And that is why Jesus says, “Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,” when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye (Luke 6:42).
Now, Saint Francis, in today's readings, will become a true model for us, because they are particularly Franciscan, and Saint Francis was deeply concerned that the friar should never become someone who speaks beautifully about holiness without actually pursuing it himself.
And so, in his Admonitions, in the sixth chapter, Francis reflects upon Christians who admire the saints but do not want to imitate their sacrifices. He writes, “It is a shame for us, servants of God, that while the saints actually did such things, we wish to receive glory and honour by merely recounting their deeds.”
That could almost be Saint Francis commenting directly upon Saint Paul's warning, “for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
There's also a great danger in religious life for us priests and consecrated, and especially in preaching, that we become very good at telling other people what Christianity requires. How important it is that before I preach, I myself become, as much as possible, prayer in action.
Paul says, “I drive my body and train it.” Jesus says, "...remove the wooden beam from your eye first." Francis says, "Do not be satisfied merely recounting what holy people have done."
My dear brothers and sisters, let us continue to humbly embrace our own path, our own sanctification, first and foremost, and then from what we have within us, we can extend to others our cup. If it runneth over, it will be a cup of blessing in our lives and in the lives of many.
May Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Go in peace.
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