In today’s Gospel Jesus instructs us to look at our own faults instead of focusing on the faults of another: “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” (Luke 6:42). This saying is part of the so-called “Sermon on the Plain” in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 6:20-49). An alternate or parallel version in found is the so-called Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 5:1-7:20). In both Gospels Jesus warns us against being quick to judge and/or condemn.
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5).
It is not up to you or me to judge or condemn; it is up to God alone since God knows alone what is truly in a person’s heart. In the Eucharistic Prayer we pray at mass we hear the following words:
“Remember our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the peace of your Christ, and all the dead, whose faith you alone have known. Admit them to rejoice in the light of your face, and in the resurrection give them the fullness of life.” (Eucharistic Prayer for Various Needs IV).
As this prayer brings out God alone is the true judge. God may see faith in a person who is not outwardly a Christian. We would wrongly judge and condemn such a person because they are not Christians. What God sees is the faith in their heart. While they may not publicly profess Jesus as their Lord God sees their true faith as the feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty and clothe the naked. Jesus teaches that we will be judged by God on whatever we do to the least: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40).
Today is the anniversary the terrorist attack on September 11th. We pray for all of those who died that day and for their families and those who continue to suffer today. We remember all those who died as we pray:
“Remember our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the peace of your Christ, and all the dead, whose faith you alone have known. Admit them to rejoice in the light of your face, and in the resurrection give them the fullness of life.” (Eucharistic Prayer for Various Needs IV).
Image: CANVA J Scullion 9 September 2026 AI Generated.