Readings: Eccles. 27:5-8, Ps. 92:2-3,13-16, 1 Cor. 15:54-58, Luke 6:39-45
“Figs are not gathered from thorns or grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil.” (Luke 6:44-45)
Last Sunday, Jesus taught us to love our enemies and we saw the example of David who had a chance of killing Saul but spared his life because David recognised Saul as the Lord’s anointed. Jesus said in last Sunday’s Gospel passage: “Judge not and you will not be judged, condemn not and you will not be condemned…” David spared Saul because he refused to judge him as a worthless fellow but saw God’s anointing in him despite his many faults. David also practiced the golden rule; he treated Saul as he would have desired to be treated by others.
Today, Jesus wants us to look inwards. To avoid judging and condemning others, we must look at ourselves. Jesus says to us today: “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck in your brother's eye.” (Luke 6:42). Let us now examine the lessons contained in today’s readings:
1. There is a Need for Constant Self-Examination.
What would happen to the car if you drive for years without opening the bonnet to check the engine or service it? Isn’t this what is happening to us when we never look at what is underneath the bonnets of our hearts? Think of your mind as an engine room and your thoughts as the oil that lubricates the parts, think of your desires as fuel that fires up the engine and your life as the car. Where and how far you go is the product of what you have inside you. To change the direction of your life, you must learn to examine your mind continuously.
If we do not examine our conscience, we risk judging others for sins we are guilty of. Humans tend to project our conscience outwards. It is like we unconsciously fight the darkness within us by pointing fingers. When the woman caught in the act of adultery was brought to Jesus, He said: “Let him who has not sinned be the first to cast a stone.” That was the moment the crowd was forced to look inwards and upon staring at the darkness within them, they dropped their stones and walked away.
Once upon a time, a couple invited me to bless their business centre so I entered their car. A song was playing from the car stereo and I unconsciously found myself singing along word for word. This was a song I had listened to perhaps more than a thousand times. I didn’t realise I was scandalising the couple. They were quiet at first, but when the wife could not stomach it anymore, she blurted out: “Father, so you still sabi this kind song?” I just froze like one who was caught stealing meat from the pot. I didn’t know how to respond. For the first time, I was forced to examine my internal musical library and it dawned on me that I knew more worldly songs than Christian songs.
Unless we examine our conscience thoroughly, we may visit the confessional repeatedly for the same sins without tracing what causes us to fall into the same sin and what we must do to escape that trap. If we don’t examine our conscience, we may think we are doing well when in reality, we may be feeding the evil wolf within us while expecting the good wolf to win the battle. We could be doing the same things but expecting different results, which is insanity. As Socrates said: “An unexamined life is not worth living.”
2. Leadership Requires Foresight.
Jesus asked a question in today’s Gospel passage: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they, not both fall into a pit?” In other words, “Can you be a leader when you are not better than the people you want to lead?” No wonder, a saying states: “If you want to change the world, begin with the man in the mirror.” Leadership is not all about power, it is, first of all, a matter of inspiring others.
Become the light you desire to see shining in our society. Lead by action, not by complaints—enough hate speeches and insults. Whatever you condemn about our leaders, begin to expunge such from your life now. Granted, our country is in a pit already but we will all remain in this pit until true leaders emerge; leaders who can see. We must ask ourselves, “How prepared am I for leadership?”
Today, our society generally is blinded by the craze for instant riches. From the least to the most influential person in our society, there is an insatiable quest to make it by hook or crook. We have armed robbers everywhere: those who steal with pen and paper, those who steal with guns, those who steal with failed promises, and those who steal even while pretending to be catching thieves. Child of God, do riches also blind you as you read this message? Do you believe you have not yet arrived until you rake in your millions? Would you rather keep God’s commandments and diligently seek to earn a living through honest, legitimate, and noble means? Are you prepared to use your mother, sister, or perhaps, your girlfriend for rituals to make it?
3. For us to Bear Good Fruits, we must be Good Trees.
As Jesus said, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck in your brother’s eye.” The only way we can offer helpful advice to others is if we are following that same advice. If you are not living out what you preach about, your preaching is useless. Sometimes we make the mistake of admonishing people to do things that we are not doing. We become like harmful trees attempting to bear good fruits. In the end, all our efforts are simply in vain.
As Jesus said, “Figs are not gathered from thorns nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.” Our first reading today states: “The kiln tests the potter’s vessels; so, the test of a man is in his reasoning. The fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree; so, the expression of a thought discloses the cultivation of a man's mind.” (Sirach 27:5-6) That is to say, if we must be good trees, we must feed and cultivate our minds with the right content.
The book of Proverbs says: “Keep your heart with all vigilance; for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23). If you desire to live the quality life you envisage, you must watch and select your thoughts. Writing the Philippians, St. Paul admonishes us: “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
Jesus describes the heart as a treasure box noting: “The good man out of his good treasure produces good and the evil man out of his evil treasures produces evil for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45). Are the contents of my heart treasures? Are they worthy of praise, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent? Do you desire to have good treasures in your heart? Then start reading books. Put the phone aside, find a library, select good books and read.
4. The Sting of Death is Sin.
Our final lesson today comes from our second reading. St. Paul teaches us that sin makes death painful. Ordinarily, death is good because it allows us to return home to our maker. Unfortunately, death is frightening because it offers the possibility of eternal damnation. Sin makes us enemies of God.
Is it possible to live without sin? St. Paul says: “thanks be to God who has given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:57). Therefore, St. Paul concludes, we must strive to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” God became flesh to redeem humanity and show us that human nature is not condemned. We are not slaves to sin. We have what it takes to live above sin.
How then do we overcome sin in our lives? This takes us back to what Jesus says in today’s Gospel passage: “Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil.” (Luke 6:44-45) Wash the inside of your cup. Believe that you can do without sin. Make efforts like the men who brought their paralytic friend to Jesus through the roof. Let Jesus see your faith; He will reward you with grace to overcome temptation. Don’t look down on yourself.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, grant us the grace of true repentance from all our sins. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (8th Sunday in Ordinary Time Liturgical Colour: Green. Bible Study: Eccles. 27:5-8, Ps. 92:2-3,13-16, 1 Cor. 15:54-58, Luke 6:39-45).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu