First Reading: Sir 27:4-7; Psalm: 92. R. v. 2a; Second Reading: 1 Cor 15:54-58; Gospel: Lk 6:39-45

BEARING GOOD FRUITS VIA SELF-INTROSPECTION

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

The gospel reading of today concludes Christ’s Sermon on the Plain which we have been reading for the past two Sundays. And as Christ concludes this sermon, he leaves us with several messages that put us in a pensive mood as we match into the week that ushers in the Lenten season. Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of our forty days Lenten journey of prayer, fasting and almsgiving is just three days away. It will be good to pay close attention to what Christ is saying to us in today’s gospel and meditate on them in our Lenten journey so as to grow in spiritual maturity.

Christ points out very clearly in our gospel reading of today that if we must bear good fruit, we must begin by looking at ourselves. And this requires a great ton of humility without which we cannot make a good introspection. Every one of us has the high tendency to pick out the faults of others without even looking at ourselves. We have the eagle’s eyes to identify people’s mistakes but are blind and neglectful of our own faults. This is one of the mistakes we readily make. So, Christ is saying that this blind mentality is counter- productive to growth and good fruit bearing. For if we are the objects of criticism of one another whereby I point out your fault and you point out mine, we will all become impervious to growth. Fault finding is unproductive. Introspection and self-truth are a more progressive approach.

However, Christ is not saying that we cannot correct one another; for we all have our blind spots. Constructive criticism can be very productive. But the point here is the humility to look inwardly and speak truth to ourselves as to who we truly are. This requires a great deal of humility that opens us to identify and accept our filth or purity. So, as we are about to begin the Lenten season, we should bear this in mind. Sincere introspection and the humility to accept who we truly are is the best step to remove the speck in our eyes, to enhance spiritual growth and to encourage good fruit bearing.

The sage Ben Sira, the author of our first reading of today gives us another vision to self- introspection: “When a sieve is shaken, the dirt is left behind; so too, the defects of a man are seen when he begins to speak. The fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree; so the expression of a thought discloses the cultivation of a man’s mind” (vs 4, 6). Christ puts it in another way in the gospel; “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit” (vs. 43-44). What are those things we don’t say before our parents or spouses but come out of our mouths around friends and around alcohol? What are those things we are ashamed to say before our parishioners but talk and laugh about them around our fellow pastors? Our dirty jokes, gossips and slander are clear revelations of the condition of our hearts. Christ is saying to us that it is time we allowed the things we say to disclose to us our filthiness and the need to sanitise. We can make this our point of reflection as we begin Lent this week.

Another important message in our gospel of today is to accept that we are inadequate in certain ways. None of us has complete sight. We need to know our limits and to be open to learn from others. We do not have monopoly of knowledge. So, there are certain things we must acknowledge that we do not know and be humble to say it in order not to cause harm or mislead others. A blind man cannot lead another blind man.

Parents are blind. They are charged to care for their children, yet they do not know everything around the world, everything about parenting and everything about their children; but they are charged to lead them. Children are very much blind. They know their needs. They know certain things in the world. They know friends and families. But they do not know all that their parents know even though their parents do not know everything. Bishops, priests and religious are also blind. They are charged to pastor and care for the Christian faithful. But they must admit that they are inadequate to handle certain pastoral matters that require the expertise of a lay faithful as they shepherd the Church. There is no shame to admit what we cannot do. It shows love and concern for the wellbeing of those we lead.

So, as Lent approaches three days from today, we can add to our points of reflection the need to shake off that pride of excessive claim to monopoly of knowledge. For it is only when we admit our inadequacies that we can progressively make headway and evade certain avoidable pitfalls. If we really want to see, we must first realise and accept our blindness. If we wished to know the condition of our hearts, we must pay attention to what we say. And for us to begin to bear good fruit, we must practice sincere self-introspection, accept who we truly are and be ready to sanitise.          

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, help us to see the speck in our eyes and the humility to acknowledge our inadequacies that we may bear good and lasting fruits of holiness. Amen.