June 28, 2026

Today's Reading: Luke 6:36-42

Daily Lectionary: Joshua 3:1-17; Acts 9:1-22

“…first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.” (Luke 6:36)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

If you have flown, you have heard the spiel. In the event that the oxygen masks are activated, put your own mask on first, then assist others. What?! For a Christian, that seems so backwards. Think of others first. Parents want to think of their children first. You want to care for your friend or loved one traveling with you.

Why do the airlines give this instruction? Time is crucial. If you pass out from a lack of oxygen while helping someone else first, you both are in danger. However, if you secured your own mask, you can then continue to help them, and more may be rescued.

Jesus’ words in today’s reading are addressing a less noble moment, though. You know how it is—the urge to roll your eyes and tell everyone when that really annoying kid in class messed up. A certain lady at church is gossiping, and you SO want to call her out on it. You visit a different church on vacation, and you spend the whole service mentally judging every movement and choice that the pastor did wrong.

Now, in this passage, Jesus isn’t saying to avoid calling sin “sin.” He doesn’t mean that you look the other way and pretend everything is great. But He IS saying to look at yourself first. Be convicted of your own sin, and repent. You are not superior to your fellow sinners. You are no better than those who annoy you; you are a fellow poor, miserable sinner.

When you do speak God’s Word to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye, it is done with compassion and out of your own repentance. Words of Law are spoken with authentic love for them as children of God who are to be made aware of their sins, and encouraged and loved as fellow forgiven saints.

Our Lord gives His Law to peaceably order society, make us all aware of our sin, and lead us to repentance. And He governs His Church by His saving Gospel, which rescues us from all the logs in our eyes and specks in our neighbors’.

So put on that oxygen mask of God’s Word, receiving that Gospel that rescued you from sin and death. He may place others to then be helped by you. Or He may simply use the silent witness of your life, like the quiet gestures of the flight attendant, giving you that “spiel.”

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Lord, grant that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by Your governance that Your Church may joyfully serve You in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.