Daily Readings - Sun Feb 27 2022
1 Corinthians
54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Luke
39And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?40The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.41And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?42Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.43For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.44For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
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.