Walking with Jesus: 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

For Sunday, February 27, 2022

Sirach 27:4-7; 1 Corinthians 15:54-58; Luke 6:39-45

What is the meaning of the phrase, “a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing?” This proverb expresses the idea that a small amount of knowledge can mislead people into thinking that they are more expert than they really are … which can lead to a whole bunch of mistakes. So where do I go for advice? Hopefully to someone who knows more than I do. When I was a youngster, my dad would take me to the basement and show me his workbench and all the tools, what they were used for, and the projects he was working on. He was my authority; I relished being taught by him.

Today as adults, we are growing in our knowledge of Jesus, our faith and the Church. Where do we go for advice? Our pastor, priests, religious teachers, deacons, religious people who study and are well-versed in Scripture. Do we view ourselves as growing apprentices? Are we constantly learning and searching? Do we realize that as we continue our growth as disciples, we also need role models whose examples we follow? We are “like” apprentices. First among these, naturally, is Jesus. Do we regularly read the Scriptures, especially the New Testament? We might say we hear Scriptures every week in Church: Do we feel that is enough for us to know Jesus? If we say we are good Christians, do we know Christ? Do we accompany Jesus on His journeys through the Holy Land? Do we follow His mission, telling us about God’s love and confirming this in His teachings, miracles and interactions with the Jews and the Gentiles? Do we see in all this that Jesus is our God, Lord and Savior? What does it mean when we come to this realization? Have we arrived at this point? Do we feel it is necessary to do this?

Imagine going to a foreign country for significant amount of time, not knowing the language or the culture. You have no translator. You are lost, confused and, no doubt, afraid. You need help, which you finally receive and become ecstatic: “I’m not lost, I can learn and enjoy and relax.” Then you begin to learn, appreciate and deepen your knowledge of your new country. Your guide’s insight and knowledge becomes your greatest asset. Christian leaders must first encounter Jesus in this way. Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you know Me, then you will also know my Father. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” [John 14:6-7] Jesus is the Way. He knows the Way and, obviously, we must spent time learning from Him. It’s only in placing ourselves in the Scriptural scenes, walking beside Jesus, knowing Him as our Savior, Redeemer, and God, that we can bring God to others. We must learn to grow in God’s love to be a person of love. How are we doing? Today’s readings emphasize this.

Sirach teaches that humble reverence for God and for the law of Moses is the way to wisdom. We must become attached to the standards of heaven. Being attached to the ways of the world not only distracts us from God but also leads us away from being who we have been called to be: God’s loving creation, leading others to the love of God. Sirach chooses three images to help us: Grain, which nourishes us, but when it's shaken through a strainer, husks are revealed which cannot nourish. Clay, which is shaped by a potter, but shows imperfections when removed from the kiln. And a tree bearing fruit promises nourishment but can become diseased and disappoint. Likewise, as Sirach points out, words may come from the heart -- but are they spoken for the service of God or the self?

Paul has been teaching that as Christians,we will experience resurrection. This means that although we die, death doesn’t have a final hold on us -- it is not the end. Christ’s Resurrection has won our victory over death and we will experience the glories of life forever with God. Even though human life is difficult and requires much of us, if our faith endures we will be with God.

Luke continues with the last part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain, explaining what is expected to attain God’s Kingdom. He continues with what might seem obvious but which we so often fail to hear: God’s wisdom. Blind guides are no guides at all. As disciples we need teachers because the Gospels must be taught and learned. Again, am I following Jesus along the way and making Him my way? Splinters vs. beams: This is a tendency common to all of us: We notice faults in others while ignoring them in ourselves, and this causes much tension in our relationships. It leads to the horrible tendency to be hypocrites … in Church it always produces blurred vision.

Only good trees produce good fruit. Jesus teaches such an obvious lesson. He really is talking about quality disciples and leaders vs. flawed disciples. Are we learners or followers?

So I reflect on:

• Jesus taught that a fully trained disciple will be like His teacher. The ultimate holiness is to become like Jesus. Am we working toward our apprenticeship?
• Am we looking for people who will help us toward holiness?
  

Sacred Space 2022 states:

“Lord, when You tell me to hold off criticism until I have cleared my own slate, You are telling me not to criticize at all, because I am never above criticism myself.  In the story of the adulterous woman, when You said: ‘Let the one without sin cast the first stone,’ what happened? They went out, beginning with the eldest, ‘Throwing stones, or bad-mouthing others, is an ignoble business. Taking apart is the trade of those who cannot construct.”