Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C March 3, 2019

First Reading
Sirach 27:4–7
In his conversation is the test of the man.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 92: 2–3,13–16
The just shall flourish like a palm tree.

Second Reading
1 Corinthians 15: 54–58
Thanks be to God who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel Reading
Luke 6:39–45
Each tree is known by its yield.

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."


Background on the Gospel Reading

The third and final section of Luke's Sermon on the Plain begins: And he told them a parable. There are actually four parables, three of which we read today. They are all about how to be a good disciple.

The blind cannot lead the blind. And a disciple cannot be a good disciple unless he or she has learned from the teacher. Everyone who is fully trained is like the teacher who knows how to cure the blind. Before you can be a good disciple and teach others you must take care of yourself. Do not try to take a speck out of your brother's eye until you have taken the board out of your own. Finally, only when you have purified yourself can you produce the good works that the teacher requires. Discipleship asks us to produce good deeds. But to produce them requires the integrity and purity of heart found in the teacher. When people see your good deeds they will know that this is because you have a good heart.

The final parable, which we do not read today, is about building on the solid foundation of rock and not on sand. This is the only way to face the difficulties a disciple will encounter and survive.


Family Connection

Jesus’ parables in this week’s Gospel are a reminder of the importance of continued learning, prayer and reflection, and humility in our discipleship. We shine God’s light in the world when we are “lit from within” with God’s grace, willing to examine our own conscience and recognize our own need for transformation through Jesus. As busy parents responsible for our children’s physical, emotional, and spiritual growth, we may sometimes be challenged to find time and energy to care for ourselves and attend to our own spiritual growth. Yet doing so can improve our family relationships and help us guide our children in their faith. We can be reminded of the simple safety instruction we hear when flying: to put on our own “spiritual” oxygen mask before helping others.

Gather as a family and spend some time discussing ideas about what it means to be a good disciple. What do we need to learn? How are we to act? How do we treat others? Read aloud today’s Gospel, Luke 6:39–45. Discuss what Jesus means when he asks, “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” Talk about how we might be tempted to focus on one another’s shortcomings without noticing our own and how this might lead to conflict. Point out that part of being a good disciple is focusing on our own behavior. As a family, share ideas for responding as a disciple when you are upset with another family member’s words or actions. (For example, taking a cooling off break before talking to the person or praying for help to see if our actions contributed to the conflict and we need to apologize.) Pray that you will grow together in your discipleship and then pray the Lord’s Prayer.


Sources: Loyola Press; Sunday Readings