The Weakness of Man

Seeing what’s happening in the world inside and around us we cannot deny that there is such a thing as human weakness or corruption. No wonder we need to humble ourselves, considering our frailty and weakness. Jesus repeatedly reminds us: “Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted” (Mt. 23:12).

If that’s the case of weakness in man and he gets to humble himself, the next step for man or woman to make is to have recourse to sources of strength and grace. He or she needs to call upon God Almighty to come to his or her aid. That is, to first acknowledge in all humility his dependence on God. He must show understanding of others and not be quick to condemn and blame others. No wonder Jesus explains the kind of person we are to be when He says: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; because the judgments you give are the judgments you will get, and the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How dare you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye’, when all the time there is a plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye” (Mt. 7:1-5).

Let us learn from history the many people’s and leaders’ mistakes who were too proud and judgmental of others yet their lives themselves were paragons of iniquity. In all things God helps us find the solution. St. Paul advised as follows: “Since in Jesus, the Son of God, we have the supreme high priest who has gone through to the highest heaven, we must never let go of the faith that we have professed. For it is not as if we had a high priest who was incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us, but we have one who has been tempted in every way that we are, though he is without sin. Let us be confident, then, in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall have mercy from him and find grace when we are in need of help” (Heb. 4:14-16).