＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22b-27

 Because I cannot boast of announcing the Gospel:

I am bound to do it. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel! If I preached voluntarily, I could expect my reward, but I have been trusted this office against my will. How can I, then, deserve a reward? In announcing the Gospel, I will do it freely without making use of the rights given to me by the Gospel.

 So, feeling free with every­­body, I have become every­body’s slave in order to gain a greater number. To the weak I made myself weak, to win the weak. So I made myself all things to all people in order to save, by all possible means, some of them. This I do for the Gospel, so that I too have a share of it.

Have you not learned anything from the stadium? Many run, but only one gets the prize. Run, therefore, intending to win it, as athletes who impose upon themselves a rigorous discipline. Yet for them the wreath is of laurels which wither, while for us, it does not wither.

So, then, I run knowing where I go. I box but not aim­lessly in the air. I punish my body and control it, lest after preaching to others, I myself should be rejected.

 

Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6, 12

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!

  

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 6:39-42

 And Jesus offered this example, “Can a blind person lead another blind person? Surely both will fall into a ditch. A disciple is not above the master; but when fully trained, he will be like the master. 

So why do you pay attention to the speck in your brother’s eye while you have a log in your eye and are not conscious of it? How can you say to your neighbor: ‘Friend, let me take this speck out of your eye,’ when you can’t remove the log in your own?

You hypocrite! First remove the log from your own eye and then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck from your neighbor’s eye.

 

Gospel Reflection：

The first step in guiding blind people is introducing yourself to them. It does not only mean saying your name and intention to help. Let them familiarize you, feel your hand and hold your arm. Do not grab them.

This first step establishes the blind person’s trust. It is important that he or she feels ready to walk with you. On the part of the guide, it takes patience, understanding, and confidence.

The blind person can strongly sense reservation and doubt. They themselves become less trusting when they feel the guide is not fully confident. Jesus calls us to have the same honesty, patience, and confidence in teaching and guiding our borthers and sisters in faith.

Being confident does not mean having no weaknesses. In fact, being confident means being deeply aware of our weakness so that we are more careful in guiding others in their helplessness.