In yesterday's reading Paul described how the pagan world, left to its own devices, sinks deeper into depravity. Before he turns his attention to how Jews too have failed to live responsibly, he first deals with an imaginary opponent (Jewish), who takes comfort in the fact that 'Gentiles indeed may be sinners, but we are certainly not!' Beneath the complexity of Paul's thought lies the transparent Gospel challenge: "Take the log out of your own eye before you go looking for the speck of dust in your neighbour's" (cf Mt. 7:5).

Genuine spiritual growth goes hand in hand with a capacity to recognize the truth of our inner motivations. It would not have been easy for the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law to hear Jesus highlight just how lacking in truth and the love of God their lives really were. Do we make our expectations of others 'burdens that they must bear', while we ourselves lift not a finger?