Sunday, March 3, 2019 Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
You can find the full readings here. This Lectio is based on the Gospel reading, Luke 6:39-45.
Reading
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.”
Standout words:
blind, like his teacher, your eye first, store of goodness, fullness
Reflection
“Lord, do I see? Do I see clearly? Can I see more clearly?”
If I enter into this reflection with the goal of correcting my brother, I’ll never see. If I only see the Publican and his unworthiness, I’ll leave unforgiven. If I only see the Pharisee and his pride, I’ll leave full of myself and not God.
“It’s me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.” How can I be fruitful if I’m not well-planted? How can I be my brother’s keeper if I can’t keep the custody of my own soul?
So, with this understanding, what am I to do? Cry out to Christ, “Show me who I am, and make me who I am supposed to be!” Then, and only then, when I am full I can be a blessing to those around me.
