Healing the Blind Spot
- davidwperk
- Oct 3, 2023
- 5 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Proper 21, the week of the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:
7:1‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 986)
AM Psalm 97, 99, [100]; PM Psalm 94, [95]
2 Chron. 29:1-3,30:1(2-9)10-27; 1 Cor. 7:32-40; Matt. 7:1-12
Today we celebrate the Feast of John Riley Mott. (See below.)
David's Reflections
The basic premise of the first paragraph of today’s Gospel comes in verse 1, "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged." Jesus illustrates the point with a humorous pithy saying about the mote and the beam. I find myself chuckling at the spectacle of someone trying to remove a speck from another's eye while a 2 x 4 board protrudes from their own eye.
Jesus' advice, also seems more than a little humorous. First, get that 2 x 4 out of your eye. Then you can see clearly and can proceed with removing the speck from your neighbor's eye. However, this saying is not about how to perform successful moral inspections of another's life; rather, Jesus' concern is with the spirit of judgmentalism that prompts the speck-removal project in the first place. Could it be that the speck I am seeing in the eye of the other might be nothing more than a reflection of the 2 x 4 in my own eye? Once the beam has vanished, perhaps I will no longer see the speck in the other’s eye?
The issue does go to vision. If we are focused on the flaws in another, we demonstrate a fundamental blindness to our own brokenness. Are we qualified as "eye inspectors" if we are ignoring the flawed nature of our own eyesight and existence? When we find ourselves preoccupied in a negative way with the failures and inadequacies of another person, Jesus' words here become our flashing red light, alerting us to look within rather than around. While focusing on the bad driving of another, our own radiator may be overheating, and we may be overlooking the red warning light.
This does not mean that we never confront another. This does not mean that everything we see in another consists of projections of our own negative stuff onto them. But, it does mean that our negative initial response to another's brokenness, if it remains negative and does not morph into compassion, speaks to problems within us as much as or more so than it does to problems in them. The fundamental question for me becomes, "Why did I see that? Why does that bother me?"
We are called to live an emotionally honest life, one in which we understand that our vision about ourselves and others has its blind spots. If we can ask the tough questions about why something in another bothers us and get any clarity about that, it may well be that what bothered us will no longer be a problem. We may find ourselves with more emotional clarity about our own inner life, a smaller blind spot, and with a higher degree of acceptance of the other person as well.
It's no small coincidence that what we call the "Golden Rule" comes in the verses just past this reading. How would we want another to treat us if they were having negative feelings about us? Would we not want them to practice restraint and to look within themselves in an emotionally honest way? Would we not hope their initial response would morph into compassion?
COLLECT OF THE DAY, Proper 21, the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 234)
Today we celebrate the Feast of John Riley Mott, evangelist and ecumenical pioneer (died 3 Oct 1955 CE).
Collect of the Feast of John Riley Mott
Everlasting God, who leads your people's feet into the ways of peace; Raise up heralds and evangelists of your kingdom like your servant John Mott, that your church may make known to all the world the unsearchable riches and unsurpassed peace of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
For the Unity of the Church
Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one: Grant that your Church, being bound together in love and obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit,
that the world may believe in him whom you have sent, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 255)
A Prayer for Light
O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, 100)
Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 7:1-12
7:1‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your neighbor, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” while the log is in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. 6‘Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.
7 ‘Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? 11If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
12 ‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
Daily Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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