Eighth Sunday Ordinary Time (Year C) - A Series of Teachings

 

Homily for the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Luke 6:39-45

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Gospel reading today offers us a series of teachings from Jesus, each packed with rich imagery and profound wisdom.

At first glance, these lessons—about the blind leading the blind, the wooden beam in our own eye, and the fruit of a tree—may seem disconnected.

Yet they are beautifully woven together to give us a roadmap for self-examination, humility, and living a life that truly bears witness to Christ.

Let us begin with Jesus’ first question:

“Can a blind person guide a blind person?

Will not both fall into a pit?”

This image immediately grabs our attention.

It’s both straightforward and thought-provoking.

Jesus is speaking to His disciples, the future leaders of the Church, and to us, who are called to lead others to Him in our own ways.

His point is clear: we cannot lead others to Christ unless we are rooted in Him ourselves.

Who or what guides your life?

This is a question we must ask ourselves often.

Are we guided by the wisdom of the world, which often prioritizes power, wealth, and comfort?

Or are we guided by Jesus, who calls us to humility, sacrifice, and love?

The answer will shape not only our lives but also the lives of those we influence—our families, friends, and communities.

To be a faithful guide, we must first let Jesus guide us.

This requires a deep and ongoing relationship with Him.

Through prayer, we listen to His voice.

Through Scripture, we come to know His teachings.

Through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, we receive His grace to follow Him faithfully.

Only then can we lead others toward the light and avoid the pitfalls of spiritual blindness.

Next, Jesus gives us another vivid and challenging image:

“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?”

Here, He addresses a tendency that is all too common—the temptation to judge others while ignoring our own faults.

Why is it so easy to see the shortcomings of others and so hard to see our own?

Perhaps it’s because focusing on others’ faults gives us a false sense of superiority.

It’s easier to point fingers than to take a hard look at our own hearts.

But Jesus calls us to something greater.

He calls us to humility and self-awareness.

When we focus on the “wooden beam” in our own eye, we begin to see ourselves as we truly are—sinners in need of God’s mercy.

This isn’t meant to discourage us.

On the contrary, it’s meant to open us to God’s transformative grace.

When we approach others with this awareness of our own need for mercy, our judgments are replaced with compassion.

Instead of condemning, we seek to build up.

Instead of tearing down, we extend a hand to help.

This doesn’t mean we abandon fraternal correction altogether.

Sometimes, love requires us to point out when a brother or sister is going astray.

But how we do this matters.

Do we approach them with a spirit of humility, acknowledging our own need for growth?

Or do we act out of pride, eager to highlight their flaws?

True correction is rooted in love and seeks the good of the other, not the satisfaction of our ego.

Finally, Jesus gives us the image of a tree and its fruit:

“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.”

With this, He brings us to the heart of the matter—our actions, words, and attitudes are the fruit of our inner lives.

What we produce in the world reflects what is in our hearts.

If we are rooted in the love of God, the fruit we bear will be good—acts of kindness, patience, forgiveness, and generosity.

But if our hearts are filled with anger, pride, or selfishness, the fruit we bear will reflect that as well.

The question for us is simple: What kind of fruit are we producing?

The answer lies in how deeply we are connected to Christ.

He is the vine, and we are the branches.

Apart from Him, we can do nothing.

But when we remain in Him—through prayer, the sacraments, and acts of love—His grace flows through us, transforming us and enabling us to bear fruit that glorifies God.

This image of the tree also challenges us to think about the long-term impact of our lives.

A tree doesn’t bear fruit overnight.

It takes time, care, and nourishment.

Similarly, our spiritual growth is a lifelong process.

We must be patient with ourselves and with others, trusting that God is at work in the hidden places of our hearts, shaping us into the people He created us to be.

Today’s Gospel invites us to a threefold response.

First, we are called to examine who or what guides our lives.

Let us make Christ our guide, trusting in His wisdom and grace.

Second, we are called to approach others with humility, focusing on our own conversion before judging.

And third, we are called to bear good fruit by staying rooted in God’s love.

As we prepare to receive the Eucharist, let us bring these reflections to the Lord.

Let us ask Him to open our eyes to His truth, to purify our hearts of pride and judgment, and to help us bear fruit that reflects His love.

May we leave this place today renewed in our commitment to follow Christ, to love one another, and to bear witness to His kingdom in all that we do. Amen.