Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

By deepening our understanding of our faith, and living it in our daily lives, we are assured that we can become fruitful disciples of Christ.

Gospel according to Luke 6:39-45

Jesus told his disciples a parable, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye. “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Reflections

As we reflect on this Sunday’s passage, we are reminded of the importance of formation and guidance in our spiritual development. Jesus warns against spiritual ignorance with the impactful metaphor of the “blind leading the blind” (Luke 6:39); a reminder that each one of us has limitations and “[has fallen] short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Jesus calls us to acknowledge our shortcomings, and to seek guidance from those who have already walked the narrow path toward God’s Kingdom. Furthermore, He emphasizes learning from our spiritual leaders: Through spiritual formation, “every disciple will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). By deepening our understanding of our faith, and living it in our daily lives, we are assured that we can become fruitful disciples of Christ. St Peter encourages us to follow our call to the discipleship through our actions: “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love” (2 Peter 1:5-7).

Jesus continues by warning against the hypocrisy of judging others before correcting ourselves. He makes reference to His background in carpentry with another striking metaphor: “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” (Luke 6:41). Jesus’ call to self-reflection and self-awareness is a determining step in our spiritual journey. Essentially, before we can become effective disciples and spiritual leaders, we must first examine our hearts and minds. We are called to examine our conscience, to acknowledge our flaws and weaknesses, and to seek forgiveness for our wrongdoings. In doing so, we can begin to help others do the same. As Jesus says, “Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye” (Luke 6:42).

Finally, we are reminded to watch our character, as it is revealed through our thoughts and actions. Jesus explains that “from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45), and symbolizes this message using the metaphor of the fruit trees. The tree that is well-tended will bear good fruit, providing sustenance, and the fruit of the tree that is neglected will wither and rot (Luke 6:43-45). This imagery solidifies the importance of living a virtuous life, one which is characterized by servitude and provision, where we are called to cultivate the good fruits of the Holy Spirit. According to St. Paul in his letter to the Galatians, these gifts include “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). As Christians, we are called to be guided by these virtues, and to let them guide our thoughts, words and actions. By living out our faith in an authentic, life-giving way, we can become sources of nourishment and inspiration to those around us. We are called to let our light “shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Psalm 37:23-24). From self-reflection and self-awareness, the Disciples of Christ become self-giving and self-sacrificing rather than self-seeking (1).

Today’s Gospel message, in summary, calls us to holiness. Jesus invites us into a life of sainthood, where we can live out the Gospel’s message and deepen our devotion to God. We are called to be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14), to bear witness to the Good News. We must strive to reflect the unconditional love and Divine mercy of our Heavenly Father. In seeking to respond to this call, we must remember that discipleship is not a fixed destination, but a lifelong journey: “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?” (Luke 9:23-25). There will be times when we stumble, where we feel like we have failed. But with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the support of our faith community, we can rise again, continuing to bring ourselves closer to God (2). As King David put it poetically, “Our steps are made firm by the Lord when he delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand” (Psalm 37:23-24).

What good news! By embracing the path of discipleship, we can bear good fruit that will last for eternity. In Jesus’ words, all we have to do is “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). In doing so, we will become more like Jesus, reflecting His love and character to a world in need. In asking, searching, and knocking together, we may build a supportive community that bears everlasting fruit.

References

1. Millare, C. (2024). Pope Francis: Self-sacrifice, humble service are key to good leadership. Catholic News Agency. Retrieved from: www.catholicnewsagency.com. Accessed on: March 1, 2025.
2. Pope Francis (2016). The Name of God Is Mercy. Catechesis given on January 13, 2016, for the Paul VI Hall. Catholic Education Resource Center. Retrieved from: catholiceducation.org. Accessed on: March 1, 2025.