“A lot of lip service gets paid to being honest, but no one really wants to hear it unless what's being said is the party line.”

“Nothing that we despise in other men is inherently absent from ourselves. We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or don't do, and more in light of what they suffer.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer: (1906 – 1945: was a German theologian and anti-Nazi dissident)

Gospel Text: (MT 7:1-5)

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
For as you judge, so will you be judged,
and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother,
'Let me remove that splinter from your eye,'
while the wooden beam is in your eye?
You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter from your brother's eye."

Socrates locates the beginning of wisdom with the admonition to “know thyself.” Few in Plato’s dialogues move in this direction. It is humbling to peer into the dusty corners of our lives. We like to hide from ourselves. 

The Gospel reading tells us to look deeper into ourselves and to recognize our own defects and sinfulness.

Let us look at the example of Jesus who inspires us with his wisdom and mercy, who shows love and kindness to all.