Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Title

Life is Hard and then we Die

Outline

“Life is hard and then we die” was a slogan that drifted around in my youth

That is in many ways true, but it stops too soon: after death comes the time “when this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality”

But what that time looks like depends on how we live now: life may be hard, harder for some than for others and harder at some times than at others, but the future depends on how we live it.

Now it is true that we should not judge others - that is above our pay grade - but we humans reveal the truth about ourselves when we speak

Sirach affirms that while we cannot see within a person, the person reveals themselves when they speak - my inner anger will eventually come out in at least snide remarks

Jesus challenges us with a series of teachings

First, do not underestimate our ability for self-deception: we can easily be the blind leading the blind, as seems fairly true in our culture as a whole today.

This is also true on the personal level: we often try to correct in others what we have in spades, oblivious to the fact that the reason the other’s fault concerns us is that we struggle with it even more.

Second, “No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.” Of course, this is true on the natural level so long as the teacher keeps on growing. It is also true that we in many ways are like one or the other of our parents. But is scarily serious on the level of Jesus as our teacher.

When fully trained we should be like Jesus. This applies to priests in spades, for we must speak and listen in persona Christi capitas. Are fully like the one we represent. But it also is true of all of us, for all Christians are part of the body of Christ and represent him. The measure of our maturity is not signs and wonders but whether we speak and act like Jesus.

Third, we reveal ourselves in our fruit.

What “grows on us” or what “comes out from us”? This is not a question to ask about someone else, but one for your own examination of conscience, both positive and negative.

What good appeared in my life today or this week and, of course, what bad. Then ask where the fruit came from, perhaps working it out in a journal. That will show you what warped thoughts need to be corrected in your heart and where good and evil are rooted in you. Then you can take measures to encourage the good and curb the evil.

Sisters, I our passages go beyond speech, but include speech

Speech ethics are a major topic in scripture

But the ability to deal with speech ethical issues is rooted in our awareness of the root issues in our heart, which may include past wounding that needs to be brought to God for healing.

And it is rooted in a lively awareness of where we are headed. Our culture is short-term focused even more than it is this-life focused. A healthy focus on our resurrection makes us willing to work for long-term change . God will surely deal with our issues after death, but our cooperation with God in our transformation in this life will be more than worth it in the resurrection of body and soul.

Meditate on these things and God will teach you how to apply them

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 2-27-2022: Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Sirach 27:4–7

4 When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear;

so do people’s faults when they speak.

5 The furnace tests the potter’s vessels;

the test of a person is in conversation.

6 The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had;

so speech discloses the bent of a person’s heart.

7 Praise no one before he speaks,

for it is then that people are tested.

Catholic Daily Readings 2-27-2022: Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 92:2a

2 It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

to sing praise to your name, Most High,

PSALM

Psalm 92:2–3, 13–16

2 It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

to sing praise to your name, Most High,

3 To proclaim your love at daybreak,

your faithfulness in the night,

13 The just shall flourish like the palm tree,

shall grow like a cedar of Lebanon.

14 Planted in the house of the LORD,

they shall flourish in the courts of our God.

15 They shall bear fruit even in old age,

they will stay fresh and green,

16 To proclaim: “The LORD is just;

my rock, in whom there is no wrong.”

Catholic Daily Readings 2-27-2022: Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 15:54–58

54 And when this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Catholic Daily Readings 2-27-2022: Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Philippians 2:15d, 16a

15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world,

16 as you hold on to the word of life, so that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

GOSPEL

Luke 6:39–45

39 And he told them a parable, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? 40 No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? 42 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.

43 “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. 45 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.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 2-27-2022: Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2022 | ORDINARY TIME

EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR C | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Sirach 27:4–7

Response Psalm 92:2a

Psalm Psalm 92:2–3, 13–16

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 15:54–58

Gospel Acclamation Philippians 2:15d, 16a

Gospel Luke 6:39–45

GREEN