Trees, Fruits, Splinters, and Beams: Reflections on the Readings for the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Sirach 24:4-7
Psalm 92
1 Corinthians 15:54-58
Luke 6:39-45

Jesus spoke often of the fruits of people’s actions as a way of discerning what you are dealing with. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.” (Matthew 7:15-17)

Determining character by the fruits of people’s actions and words figures greatly in today’s readings. Sirach refers to it as a test. We are tested by trials and tribulations which reveal our true inner situation. Looking at our inner selves, so as to test ourselves is appropriate as we are on the cusp of Lent, a time for testing our preparedness for spiritual warfare.

Sirach tells us that when we speak what we say can reveal our faults, the same way that a sieve or sifter shows the big pieces (husks) that may have been hidden. Tribulation is a test that brings out our inner values. A well-tended tree will still produce good fruit and likewise, if we have taken care to learn our faith and build up our spiritual muscles, we will also continue to bear good fruit, even when tested. St. Peter tells us the importance of being prepared for tests of faith: “In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

The psalmist reminds us to live in the house of the Lord so that we too, will flourish and continue to bear fruit, even in old age. Living in the house of the Lord means we praise Him and give thanks as well as follow His commands. Many psalms, beginning with Psalm 1, talk about loving God’s law. “How I love your law, Lord!” (Psalm 119:97)

Loving the law of the Lord recognizes His desire for our good. In fact, one of the phrases in this psalm not read here is, “How profound your designs! A senseless person cannot know this; a fool cannot comprehend.” We need not to be fools.

When we fail to follow God’s laws, fail to live in tune with Him (i.e., in His house), things often go awry. They deteriorate, chaos ensues, there is unrest and often violence. Just take a look at how the world defies God’s laws and see the results. But following the law and giving thanks results in prosperity. However, we too often think of prosperity in terms of money and material wealth. These are fleeting and fade quickly (and “you can’t take it with you”). So we need to build up riches that last, looking toward our heavenly home, in the house of the Lord. “But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” (Matthew 6:20-21) Research surveys repeatedly show that those who participate in religion are happier, more stable, and more engaged in life. For example, one recent study (American Family Survey 2024) showed that church attendance figured heavily in happiness for young women (ages 18-40).

In the second reading, St. Paul is talking about repentance and conversion. We change our corruptible and mortal selves into incorruptible souls ready for immortality with God in heaven. One way we do this is by following Jesus and being devoted to the work of the Lord. In this way we will have victory over death through our victory over sin. Through death we embark on a new life with the Lord.

As in other epistles, Paul tells us to stand firm, “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” Being steadfast calls for endurance, which is important for our salvation, as Jesus tells us, “... he who endures to the end will be saved.” (Mt 10:22)

The gospel passage from Luke, like the other readings, is also appropriate for the last Sunday before we get into Lent. This passage calls us to look inward at our own failings and sinfulness before we set out to criticize others. In this way we hope to learn what separates us from our brothers and from God. That is one of the basic reasons we engage in the sacrifices and exercises we go through during Lent.

Lent is a time for introspection and discernment. It is a time to focus on our spiritual well-being and turn away from the things that have distracted us from God. Too often the resolutions we make are quickly forgotten or explained away, especially those relating to our spiritual lives. Lent gives us the opportunity to focus on that and recommit ourselves to following the way of the Lord (as indicated by the earlier readings).

Lent culminates in Easter with the Resurrection of Our Lord and the manifestation of our redemption in Him. To be properly receptive of this enormous gift, we need to prepare ourselves through humility and sacrifice. Calling out the splinter in another’s eye is like trying to say we are better than them and is not humility. As Jesus implies, it is like the blind leading the blind – both shall fall into the pit.

While we have a responsibility to admonish the sinner (one of the spiritual works of mercy), we need to recognize our own littleness, especially with respect to the Lord.

“Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.” (Sirach, 3:18)

We need to understand and acknowledge our own frailty in order to help others. A fruitful Lent can help us do that. For, as Jesus tells us in the gospel reading, “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.”

“Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12)