Homily for the Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Our limited insight into what makes others tick makes it precarious for us to judge them. It's tempting to think that we see things clearly while others cannot see the truth, but Jesus reminds us that we are all blind to some degree. It's often the blind leading the blind rather than the enlightened leading the blind. This humble acknowledgment of our own blindness should lead us to be more introspective and less judgmental.

Changing the metaphor somewhat, Jesus gives us the comical image of someone trying to take a splinter out of someone else's eye while unaware of the wooden beam in their own eye. Taking the wooden beam out of our eye means being more intent on tending to our own failings than to others'. Often, we do not see clearly enough to understand what is happening in another person. Therefore, we need to be patient and understanding, slow to judge and condemn. God sees clearly into every heart and is compassionate and merciful to all, even the unworthy. We are asked to try to be merciful and compassionate like that.