ACCUSING FINGERS

 We try to avoid the habit of pointing accusing fingers at others so we may not fall into a worse scenario of forgetting we have our own major defects to correct.  It’s true fraternal correction is part of our Christian upbringing and concern to help others in the ways of perfection.  But this should not be overplayed as if we don’t have our own mistakes to correct.  So Jesus made that point clear when He mentions in the gospel the advice to call our attention on avoiding that commonplace or general defect we have of faultfinding.  “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. 7:3-5).

This is certainly a significant advice of Jesus that we may progress faster in our own spiritual perfection instead of becoming stagnant because of the judgmental habit of gossiping on others’ defects or weaknesses.  Besides you might turn out to be that artificial person, so to say, a hypocrite which Jesus strongly criticizes.  You don’t tend to progress spiritually when you keep on minding what is not your own business but rather more of others’ concern.