Scripture Scribbles: February 27, 2022
the Gospel
Jesus told his disciples a parable,
“Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained,
every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”
the devotion
Because I have a sensitive nature, my feelings are often hurt, typically by my immediate family, my husband and two sons. After one torturous battle, I felt misunderstood, disrespected, unloved, and deeply wounded. Stumbling into Eucharistic Adoration, I exposed my splintered heart to Jesus for Him to heal, bind up, and restore yet again.
Additionally, I challenged God to unearth when I had similarly harmed anyone. Instantaneously, a lifetime of painful memories flooded in. I recalled all the innumerable, callous words that I had hurled at my family. Those thoughtless remarks (thorns) combined with my countless inconsiderate actions (brambles) undoubtedly caused them considerable suffering.
At the time, I was blinded to my offenses, but now reflecting, the wooden beams became visible. I was ashamed and shocked by my unloving acts and utterances from years ago. From the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. Sure, my crushing words were spoken out of insecurity and frustration, but they were still inexcusable. My evil heart was in desperate need of transformation. Rotten fruit from a rotten tree!
I cried copious tears of remorse for the first ½ hour of adoration. The second ½ hour, I pleaded with Jesus to help me always see clearly. Never allow me to inflict pain on anyone again. Let me bear only good fruit from a good, loving heart. When I returned home, I apologized to my baffled family, who graciously accepted my apology, decades overdue.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine.
Today’s devotion was written by Karen Molvar.
