‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”, while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.
–Matthew 7:1-5
One of the greatest benefits that has come out of our diocesan pilgrimage is that we are being challenged to be intentional about our introspection—to think upon and identify, not only our weaknesses, but also our strengths. Though we are not looking within ourselves specifically so that we do not become hypocrites, this process is enabling us to see more clearly. Part of that process may entail looking at the past in a new way or with a new understanding. It may entail looking beyond the specks in our neighbors’ eyes to something positive and of more value to us. It may entail discovering where we can improve and help one another—asking our neighbors to help us remove the specks in our eyes out of love, while we return the favor. We all have different strengths and areas for growth. And we are coming together as a diocese both to offer our talents and ask for support in whatever ways we need. Let us continue to commit ourselves to this important work so that we may move beyond the difficulties of the past and move towards the future that we hope to see within our diocese.