Again today we have two versions of the one parable, the original and a later church interpretation or reception. Communities of faith are always “mixed,” in that some people are fully engaged, some are half-hearted and many, perhaps most, are somewhere in between. What to do? The temptation to go for a radical, purified church has been a recurring one across history. The teaching of this parable is let things alone—it is not for us to judge. It could be (we hope!) that less committed believers may change and a welcoming, compassionate approach may enable that to happen.

Prayer

Jesus, your compassion to all inspires us today to recognise our own need of your grace. Help us work on the plank in our own eyes before we dare to recognise, much less to offer to remove, a splinter in our neighbour’s eye.

K O’Mahony OSA