8TH SUNDAY, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH
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(Luke 6:39-45)
Today is the 8th Sunday in the
Ordinary Time, Year C of the Church's Liturgical Calendar. It is the Sunday
that ushers us into the Holy season of Lent. Wednesday is already Ash
Wednesday.
The movement of the Gospel is
quite interesting. It is a movement that calls much attention to be focused on
the "I" more than the "Thou," thus a movement that starts
with "Me" to "Thee."
As a matter of fact, Jesus
addresses you as the "You" that is the first person singular, calling
you as it were to handle you before the other. The invitation is for self
-evaluation, self-examination, and objective personal analysis of my personality.
It calls for scrutinizing and examining one's own conscience and consciousness.
It calls for 'mea culpa'; having to do with beating of one's own chest
in acceptance of our faults (Saying: Oui, j'ai vraiment péché), and
not beating that of the other.
This work on oneself that doesn't
give room for judgement is an integral activity. The Gospel specified tips to
guide us in this important task:
SEE, CORRECT SELF BEFORE THE
OTHER
Jesus started with a parable, a
parable that came in a question form. A question that carries yes and no
answer. He asked: Can the blind lead the blind? "He can't," may be
the answer in the negative. "He can" may also be the answer in the
positive. In the first place, it is not something that should be attempted
since it is an unthinkable thing to do. But on the other hand, they can take
the risk. But Jesus provides answer to what becomes of them. The pit will be
their end.
Why are you blind to your faults
and see well when it has to do with the other? You can't succeed in clearing
what's faulty in the other person's life when you're carrying a lot of filth in
your own life.
Seeing well also enables you to
come out of yourself and be your own judge. Tell yourself what no one sees in
your life, be just to yourself for once. It helps you quickly to know how
fallible you are, yes that I too make and can make mistakes, that I have done
this before or have nearly done this before. I am not better than the other
person since anything can happen if a single mistake is made, and because of
that, I should correct with love and not criticize destructively with
hypocrisy.
It is a call to know that the
other person who knows that he's not getting it right and accepts the truism is
better than me when I don't know the harm am doing myself by deceiving myself,
hiding my fault and pronouncing the others. When I see well, I will stop
condemning the other because he's not in the same political party with me, when
am ready to excuse away my friend of same party who did the exact thing or even
more grievous.
When I see well, I will
understand the statement: "If any of you have no sin, let him be first to
throw stone." Let's not be first in throwing judgmental stones but first
work on ourselves and show love.
BLEND THE WORDS WITH WORKS
Jesus says that a disciple is not
greater than the master. The above could be explained in different ways, but I
chose to talk about it from the perspective that a disciple cannot know more
than what his master shows in deeds. This should be a warning against 'soro
okwu onum esola omume m.' If you claim to be a master in virtues, then know
that you're followed, and your followers have more eyes than ears. Your deeds speak more volume than any other
thing. Action speaks louder than voice.
EVERY WORK BEAR FRUITS
By its fruits, a tree is known.
Having worked on oneself, the result is sound heart. From the sound heart,
therefore, flows good and edifying words. One can, at this point, lead. Lead
people out of darkness into light, out of sin into holiness, out of ignorance
into knowledge.
What a wonderful thing! It
started with the eyes(blind) and ended with the heart. Never judge with human
eyes. Look within and correct with divine love, the love that flows from the
sound heart.
May God bless His word in our
hearts.
LET US PRAY
We thank You, Lord God, for Your
word, which is the light for our paths.
Give us the grace to work on ourselves and help us not judge others
rashly.
Bless us with a sound heart that
we may produce good fruits in all our endeavours through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Happy Sunday
(8th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr
C)
Rev
Fr Julian O Ekeh
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