Is the Pot Calling the Kettle Black?

A few FB friends have shared this post – http://catholicnewsherald.com/87-news/4989-the-christian-battle-is-against-evil-not-people-pope-says – most including a version of “the pot calling the kettle black”. Although I regretfully agree that this does seem to be the case, by posting it with this sentiment – they are doing the same thing.

What came to mind for me is something I have blogged and posted about on many occasion. We do not see ourselves in the complaints we have of others. Throughout my life, when people were not criticizing me themselves, they would say that I was too critical on myself. BUT, one of the reasons is because I saw this scenario play out almost every day. I feared that I too was not removing the boulder from my eye when seeing the stye in someone else’s.

In a recent event or rather how a recent event was handled (more specifically the lack of communication and consideration of me or my feelings), I wanted to be so critical of the 2 people that hurt me the most in it. I had wanted to call them out on it, but how could I when I thought of all the times I acted the same way without thinking about it. I realized that I am just as guilty as they were in my treatment of others, in my lack of consideration of others feelings, my insensitivity, etc.. I knew that for at least one of them, that was not who they are deep down.

As for this specific post, yes, I hope and pray that our good Pope will consider his own words, but that does not make him wrong. Everyone who is radical in their opinion regarding the Church, whether it be traditionalist or modernist, is guilty of what the Pope outlines. So many are convinced they are right, they know what God wants, are convinced they are doing right… but Saul/Paul is a perfect example of why we cannot rely on how we “feel” right now or what we think we know to be the truth without constantly going back to the Holy Spirit for validation. I know I have grown tremendously. Things that I thought I understood and were absolutely set that my opinion was correct, the Lord had me look at it differently and suddenly I saw in a new “Light”.

In addition, I totally agree that it is evil, not the individual, who we are battling. Sometimes it is a battle within ourselves, sometimes it truly is the devil in someone. Never fault the person but rather pray. I know I see what I believe to be evil in someone that only a few other people see. I have been in constant prayer for that person for over 3 years. What do I pray? Lord, let me see You in her, let me see her as You do. If I am wrong about the apparent evil, change my heart and let me see the truth. If I am right, I beg of You Lord, let her see it so You can begin to heal her. But above all, Lord, let me love her with Your Heart!