FOR EVERY TREE CAN BE TOLD BY ITS OWN FRUIT

VIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Luke 6:39-45

In this Sunday’s gospel, Luke puts together a few sayings of Jesus:

• the blind guiding the blind;
• the disciple is not superior to his teacher;
• having a plank in your eye, you want to take the splinter from your friend’s eye;
• a tree can be told by its fruit;
• a man’s words reveal what is in his heart.

These are wisdom sayings that may help us to examine ourselves and our surroundings. They may serve as signs along the road of life, warning us of danger ahead and indicating the direction we should follow.

Jesus asked: How can a blind guide the blind? Indeed, both will fall into a pit. And that is the situation we are finding ourselves in the world. The war which began with the invasion of Ukraine is a result of that. The leaders are blind people who prosper in deeds of darkness. Guided by false ideals, they are ready to lead the world to doom. All try to justify themselves with words of justice and peace. They are deluded and try to impose their delusion on others. In which way can be justified the invasion of an independent country? Is it for annexation or to impose a puppet government? We point fingers at Russia, but the United States did the same more than once. We can remember Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Iraq was invaded on basis of lies. Ukraine is being invaded based on a perceived threat to the security of Russia. Why can’t they live as brothers that share so much in common? When the leaders are blind, they lead the people into the pit of destruction and death.

It is so easy to see the failures in others while overlooking our own. Most of us are filled with a sense of self-righteousness and we are always ready to blame others for any shortcomings. Demonising the others, we are ready to destroy them or their good name. This happens at an individual level and also at the community and national level. Some consider themselves as reaching excellence, thus becoming models of democracy, freedom and justice. The others are the enemy, always full of evil intents. We live in the radiance of light, while they live in the darkness of oppression. Jesus invites us to do a serious self-examination and to recognise our failures and shortcomings:

“Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.”

Our deeds will be the proof of good or evil in us. And we cannot hide them. Sooner or later, our rottenness will come into the public eye; or the goodness which is in our heart will be recognised.

As the war rages in Ukraine, let us pray for peace.

“Let us pray.

Grant us, O Lord, we pray,

that the course of our world

may be directed by your peaceful rule

and that your Church may rejoice,

untroubled in her devotion.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.” (prayer of this Sunday’s mass)