Daily Readings - Sun Feb 27 2022
Sirach
4If you do not hold yourself steadfastly to the fear of the Lord, your house will be quickly overthrown5Just as the dust remains when one shakes a sieve, so will the doubt of a man remain in his thoughts6The furnace tests the potter’s vessels, and the trial of the tribulation tests just men7As the pruning of a tree reveals its fruit, so does a word reveal the thoughts in the heart of a man
1 Corinthians
54And when this mortality has been clothed with immortality, then the word that was written shall occur: "Death is swallowed up in victory.55"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?56Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law57But thanks be to God, who has given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ58And so, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and unmovable, abounding always in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not useless in the Lord
Luke
39Now he told them another comparison: "How can the blind lead the blind? Would they not both fall into a pit40The disciple is not above his teacher. But each one will be perfected, if he is like his teacher41And why do you see the straw that is in your brother’s eye, while the log that is in your own eye, you do not consider42Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, allow me to remove the straw from your eye,’ while you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? Hypocrite, first remove the log from your own eye, and then will you see clearly, so that you may lead out the straw from your brother’s eye43For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor does an evil tree produce good fruit44For each and every tree is known by its fruit. For they do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather the grape from the bramble bush45A good man, from the good storehouse of his heart, offers what is good. And an evil man, from the evil storehouse, offers what is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the connection between our inner lives and our outward actions. In the first reading from Sirach, we are reminded that a person’s character is revealed through trials and tribulations, much like a tree’s fruit reveals its health. The author emphasizes the importance of fearing the Lord and living with integrity, for it is through such virtues that we are tested and proven true. This wisdom literature calls us to self-examination, urging us to consider whether our actions align with the values we profess.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts our focus to the ultimate victory of Christ over death. St. Paul writes that through Jesus, death has lost its power, and sin no longer holds sway over us. This passage is a declaration of hope and perseverance, encouraging us to remain steadfast in our faith despite life’s challenges. The reading reminds us that our labor for the Lord is never in vain, for we are assured of eternal life through Christ’s triumph.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus teaching about the importance of self-reflection and humility. Jesus uses the parable of the blind leading the blind and the image of a log in one’s own eye to highlight the hypocrisy of judging others while ignoring our own flaws. He emphasizes that our words and actions flow from the abundance of our hearts. A good tree bears good fruit, and a bad tree bears bad fruit. This teaching challenges us to examine our own lives before attempting to correct others, for true change begins within.
These readings together remind us that our faith is not just about outward actions but about the inner transformation that guides them. We are called to live with integrity, to trust in God’s plan, and to approach others with humility and self-awareness. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living in a way that reflects the good fruit of a heart transformed by Christ? Do we approach life’s challenges with the confidence of God’s victory? And are we willing to remove the logs from our own eyes before trying to help others? May we strive to be good trees, bearing fruit that reflects the love and mercy of God.