September 12, 2025 Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: 1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14; Luke 6:39-42
The First Reading, from the opening of St. Paul’s First Letter to Timothy, belongs to the Deutero-Pauline and Pastoral tradition. The introduction presents Paul and Timothy: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, not by chance but by God’s command and Christ, our hope; and Timothy, his beloved child in faith. With fatherly affection, Paul blesses him with the gifts of grace, mercy, and peace that flow from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul then shifts to an autobiographical confession. With humility, he recalls his past as a blasphemer, persecutor, and man of violence. Yet, rather than being condemned, he experiences the overflowing grace of Christ, who not only forgives but also entrusts him with service. Paul recognizes that his actions were rooted in ignorance and unbelief, but Christ’s mercy transformed his weakness into strength and his failure into a vocation. His gratitude is profound: the very Lord he once opposed judged him faithfully and appointed him to ministry. Here, Paul’s life becomes a witness that God’s grace is greater than human sin.
The Gospel presents Jesus’ teaching in parables that carry universal truths. “Can a blind person lead another blind?” A leader without inner vision cannot guide others. Jesus then addresses the striking image of the speck and the log. The speck represents small flaws in others, while the log symbolizes the larger sins within ourselves. Human tendencies often magnify others’ shortcomings while ignoring one’s own failures. Such hypocrisy, Jesus says, blinds us to the truth. Only when we first confront and correct our own “logs” can we see clearly enough to assist others in removing their “splinters.”
This message is timeless. In today’s world, no one is drawn to constant fault-finding. True discipleship demands humility, self-examination, and mercy. Paul’s transformation reminds us that grace renews even the most broken, while Jesus’ words invite us to begin change within ourselves before we can bring healing to others.
Call to Action: A gentle and appreciative approach in relationships enriches life far more than fault-finding or false accusations. Let us choose kindness, for the way we treat others shapes our character.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
