The Catechism of the
Catholic Church teaches us that “Christianity is the religion of the ‘Word’ of
God, … the Word is incarnate & living’ [St. Bernard]. … Christ, the
eternal Word of the living God, must, through the Holy Spirit, ‘open [our]
minds to understand the Scriptures’” [Christopher West, Word Made Flesh, Introduction, CCC #108]
We need to accept God’s
grace so His Living Word permeates our lives.
We must profess & live the Word of God. God’s Word “…demands something of us…. that
we grow up & become more like the one we say we follow.’” [Hungary, And You
Fed Me: Homilies & Reflections For Cycle C]
In today’s
Gospel Luke builds his account on 3 things:
1.
Can a
blind person guide a blind person?
2.
Why do you
notice the splinter in your brother’s eye & not the wooden beam in your
own?
3.
A good
tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
Can a
blind person guide a blind person in a literal sense – NO!
1. Many of
you remember Harry Reese, the long time principal of our parish school. He and I are golfing buddies, many years ago;
we were playing golf at the Center Valley Club, late in the afternoon [twilight
rates were more affordable].
After we
finished 9 holes of golf, there was still some light left, so we decided to
continue with golf bags in hand, attempting to play a few more holes of golf on
the back nine. This was before the
Promenade Shopping Center was built; on the 13th or 14th
hole it was dark.
As we
headed back to the clubhouse it became pitch black we couldn’t see
anything. We were experiencing the blind
leading the blind; fortunately neither of us got hurt [except our pride].
We need to
follow Jesus; He is the light of the world.
2. This wooden beam blocks my view; I need to deal with it first.
We must
examine ourselves in terms of how we are living the FAITH!
3. A good
tree bears good fruit.
“… Jesus reminds his
followers [us] of the dangers of hypocrisy.”
Originally hypocrisy was
a theatre term that meant an actor skilled in mimicry. [America
Magazine 2-28-19]
Jesus wants our deeds to reveal Hour character, as His disciples, He wants us to follow Him. We are called to believe and to live the Gospel amid the ever-increasing noise, distractions and paganism in our culture.
Jesus wants our deeds to reveal Hour character, as His disciples, He wants us to follow Him. We are called to believe and to live the Gospel amid the ever-increasing noise, distractions and paganism in our culture.
This
Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, when once again we will hear the stark reminder: “Remember that you
are dust and to dust you will return.” A reminder that we are on a solemn journey, a
journey to eternity.
April 30, 1863,
President Lincoln
proclaimed, “We have
been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have grown in numbers, wealth & power
…. BUT WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD.
… we have vainly
imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced
by some superior wisdom & virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success … too proud
to pray to God …. [Sermons.Com, Ash Wednesday, Lincoln’s Proclamation for a
National Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer]
May each
of us here today renew our response as disciples of Jesus devote more time and
effort to our prayer life, so we can follow God’s Will more faithfully.
For a few
minutes, in silence, with Lent fast approaching think about how you can be a
better disciple on Easter Sunday than on Ash Wednesday.
May God Be
Praised!
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