Commentary on the Gospel of

Paulson Veliyannoor, CMF - Claretian Publications Philippines - Victoria Sanchez - Teacher in Madrid

Triple Filter Test

Read:

The book of Sirach uses three analogies to draw our attention to the truth that our speech reveals our character. Using the imagery of tree and its fruits, Jesus confirms the wisdom of Sirach. Paul invites us to labor with Christ as Christ works, so that we produce good fruit.

Reflect:

Once a disciple came to Socrates ready to gossip about someone. Socrates stopped him and gave him a “triple filter test” about what he was going to say. “Are you sure that what you are going to tell me is true?” The disciple wasn’t sure. ”Is it good?” No, it wasn’t. “Is it useful?” He wasn’t sure. Socrates said: “If what you want to tell me isn’t true, good or even useful, why should I hear it?”

When we are tempted to speak ill of the other, it is good to apply this filter to our thought: “Is what I am going to speak really true, good, and useful?” If any one of the three conditions fails, we better keep our mouth shut, or still better, say a silent prayer for the other.

Pray:

“Lord, give me an appreciative heart so that I speak only words that build up the other.”

Act:

Reach out to a member of your family and say something authentically appreciative.

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8th Sunday in Ordinary Time - "Can a blind man be a guide to a blind man?"

This Sunday's gospel refers to the spirit of criticism . We judge and criticise too easily. Jesus is right when he reminds us that the speck in someone else's eye is always more visible than the plank in our own. We are not sufficiently bothered by our own ills, because we magnify the faults of others. We waste our time in healing our brother for little things, so that we do not spend it in dealing with our own great ailments. He is not a worthy disciple who thinks he is better because he knows that his brothers are not entirely good.

There is something cloudy in our gaze that makes us see everything blurred, that prevents us from seeing reality clearly, like a filter that makes us see the other as less valuable than ourselves. We forget that admiring others is a human quality, when admiration is authentic. Because those who admire, learn, and are enriched by the richness of others. Not having the capacity to admire is a disgrace, and not wanting to admire is meanness. 

The sincere recognition of the virtues of others is something we should cultivate, because it helps us to humanise the environment in which we live and work. Whenever we cover up the faults of our brothers, God covers up our own faults as well. In order to bear good fruit, we need to recognise our own blindness in order to advance along the path of boundless goodness.

Let us reflect today on the root of the evil that dominates us and prevents us from seeing the good in our brothers.

(Psalm 91) It is good to give thanks to you, Lord. 

"HAPPY SUNDAY TO ALL".

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