February 27 - Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C

 

First Reading     Sirach 27:4–7
In his conversation is the test of the man.

 

Responsorial Psalm     Psalm 92: 2–3,13–16
The just shall flourish like a palm tree.   

 

Second Reading     1 Corinthians 15: 54–58
Thanks be to God who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Gospel Reading
Luke 6:39–45
Each tree is known by its yield.

 

Background on the Gospel Reading

The third and final section of Luke’s Sermon on the Plain begins: And he told them a parable. There are actually four parables, three of which we read today. They are all about how to be a good disciple.

The blind cannot lead the blind. And a disciple cannot be a good disciple unless he or she has learned from the teacher. Everyone who is fully trained is like the teacher who knows how to cure the blind. Before you can be a good disciple and teach others you must take care of yourself. Do not try to take a speck out of your brother’s eye until you have taken the board out of your own. Finally, only when you have purified yourself can you produce the good works that the teacher requires. Discipleship asks us to produce good deeds. But to produce them requires the integrity and purity of heart found in the teacher. When people see your good deeds they will know that this is because you have a good heart.

The final parable, which we do not read today, is about building on the solid foundation of rock and not on sand. This is the only way to face the difficulties a disciple will encounter and survive.