Daily Catholic Lectio
Fri, 11 Sep 2026
XXIII Week in Ordinary Time
1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-27. Lk 6:39-42
Beam and Splinter
In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches His disciples that before they point out the faults of others, they must first correct their own faults. He teaches this through two images.
The first image is that of a blind person guiding another blind person. The second image is that of a person who has a beam in his own eye, but tries to remove the splinter from the eye of another.
In both images, the intention of the person seems good. The blind guide wants to lead another person. The one who sees the splinter wants to help the other person. But both have obstacles within themselves. Because of these inner obstacles, they cannot fulfil their good intention.
Jesus does not reject correction. He does not say that we must never help another person to see clearly. He says that correction must begin with oneself. If I am blind, I cannot guide another. If I carry a beam in my eye, I cannot remove the splinter from another’s eye. Self-correction must come before fraternal correction.
This is a necessary lesson for our family life, community life, ministry, and social life. Many times, we see the small faults of others very quickly. But we do not see the larger faults within ourselves. We notice the words, actions, attitudes, and failures of others. But we hide our own pride, anger, jealousy, selfishness, and lack of discipline.
Therefore, Jesus calls us to look within. What are the beams in my life? What are the inner obstacles that prevent me from helping others? What must I remove from myself before I correct another person?
In today’s first reading, Paul uses the image of a race. He says, “Run in such a way that you may win the prize.” The purpose of entering the race is to win the prize. But an athlete cannot win without discipline. He must train himself. He must control his body. He must overcome everything that prevents victory.
In the same way, the disciple of Christ must live with self-discipline. The beam in the eye can be removed only through discipline, humility, prayer, and conversion. Without self-discipline, even our good desires remain incomplete.
Paul says that he does not run aimlessly. He does not fight as one beating the air. He disciplines himself so that his preaching may not become empty. His life must support his words. His actions must give credibility to his message.
This is also true for us. If we correct others without correcting ourselves, our words lose power. If we preach without discipline, our preaching becomes weak. If we guide others without inner clarity, we may lead them into a pit.
Jesus invites us today to remove the beam before touching the splinter. Paul invites us to run with discipline in order to win the prize. Both readings call us to inner work.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
A Yesni Prays Initiative
Yesu Karunanidhi 
Leave a comment