Today, Jesus gives us a Gospel that is very easy to understand—but very difficult to practice.

He gives us three simple challenges.

First: before you lead others, make sure you are following the right path

Jesus asks: “Can a blind person guide a blind person?”

This is especially important for parents, teachers, priests, public officials, and anyone who has influence over others.

We cannot tell our children, “Be honest,” while they see us cheating.

We cannot tell people, “Do not gossip,” while we ourselves spread stories about others.

We cannot preach against corruption while tolerating dishonesty when it benefits us.

People listen to our words, but they learn more from our lives. If we want to lead others to the light, we ourselves must walk in the light.

Second: before looking at the faults of others, look at yourself.

Jesus uses a humorous image. We notice the tiny speck in our neighbor’s eye while walking around with a wooden beam in our own!

This happens every day.

We complain that someone is impatient, but perhaps we are also impatient.

We criticize someone for being proud, but perhaps we also want recognition.

We complain about dishonest leaders, but perhaps we ourselves cheat when given the opportunity.

It is always easier to examine another person’s conscience than our own. That is why before asking, “Lord, why is this person like this?” perhaps we should first ask, “Lord, what needs to change in me?”

Third: correct with humility, not condemnation.

Jesus does not say, “Never correct anyone.” He says: Remove the beam from your own eye first, and then you can help remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Correction is sometimes necessary. Parents must correct their children. Teachers must correct students. Priests must sometimes challenge their people. Friends sometimes need to tell one another the truth. But correction should come from love, not superiority. Before you correct others, let God correct you.

Clean your own shoes first

I remember a simple story about a father who was always irritated because his teenage son left muddy shoes at the door. Every day he would shout, “How many times must I tell you to clean your shoes?”

One afternoon, before his son arrived, the father noticed his own muddy shoes beside the door.

He quietly cleaned them and put them away.

That evening, his son came home, saw his father’s clean shoes, looked at his own muddy pair—and without being told, cleaned them too.

Final Words

Sometimes the most powerful correction is not pointing out another person’s dirt. It is cleaning our own shoes first.

Brothers and sisters, perhaps our families, our Church, and our society would change more quickly if each of us stopped asking, “Who needs to change?” and started asking: “Lord, what do You want to change in me?”