“FIRST IMPRESSIONS”
8th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
March 2, 2025
Sirach 27: 4-7; Psalm 92; I Corinthians 15: 54-58; Luke 6: 39-45
by Jude Siciliano, OP
Dear Preachers:
The
parable – or proverbs – Jesus teaches his disciples today come at the end of
Luke’s Sermon on the Plain (Matthew calls it the Sermon on the Mount). Even the
setting of the sermon carries meaning. Jesus has been teaching his disciples,
and the sermon begins: “Coming down the mountain with them, he stopped at a
level stretch where there were many of his disciples…” (Luke 6:17). He speaks on
level ground, suggesting that his teachings are accessible to all. We who take
his words to heart come from various walks of life, yet we have all accepted his
message and strive to live it daily. How can I embody Jesus’ teaching in my own
life?
If we have truly heard Christ’s word, it must lead to a transformed way of
living. As Jesus says, “A good person out of the store of goodness in their
heart produces good.” And we do want to “produce good,” don’t we? Having
encountered Jesus, our lives have changed – and must continue to change – for
the good.
Some believe that the lives of “true believers” should be marked by spectacular
signs: miracles, speaking in tongues, massive churches with large congregations,
and dynamic liturgies. While such signs can affirm faith, being a disciple of
the Lord requires more. Most disciples live unspectacular lives. If we are
fortunate, our days follow a steady rhythm. But it is precisely in this daily
routine that our faith should shine. Our “ordinary” lives must testify to the
difference Christ has made in us.
Jesus speaks directly to us, his disciples. If we see the splinter in another’s
eye but ignore the beam in our own, we contradict his teaching on mercy. As we
heard last Sunday (Luke 6:27-38): “Be merciful as your Father is merciful. Stop
judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be
condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” If we fail to live by these words,
Jesus warns, we will be like a rotten tree bearing rotten fruit. People will
recognize that we follow Jesus not by our lofty words, or religious expressions,
but by the good fruit we bear.
Jesus’ words are not meant only for individuals, but also for our church
communities. Do our actions and public witness reveal Jesus to others? Are all
truly welcome in our gatherings—regardless of economic status, political
beliefs, sexual orientation, race, or citizenship? How can the Christian
community be a “good tree” that produces “good fruit”?
Pope Francis offers insight into this call to bear good fruit. He has
consistently spoken out for the humane treatment of refugees and migrants.
Reflecting on Jesus’ care for outsiders, strangers, and foreigners, the Pope
emphasizes the dignity of all people and calls us to act on their behalf. He
challenges us to see those fleeing violence, poverty, and climate change not as
threats, but as our sisters and brothers. What “good fruit” would a “good tree”
bear in this situation? One such fruit is hospitality. Francis reminds us that
Christ himself was a refugee.
[Cf. Below to what Francis has said about our treatment of migrants and
refugees.]
To bear good fruit, we must be attentive listeners who cherish the Word of God.
A receptive heart allows us to see Christ in the “other” we encounter daily – at
home, in school, at work, and even in the news. Later in Luke, Jesus says, “My
mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it” (Luke
8:21). Our deeds should flow from hearts shaped by God’s Word. As the kids say,
“Listen up.”
Jesus may also be telling us to look within – to recognize the goodness and
holiness God has placed in us. We have produced much good fruit: acts of
forgiveness, compassion, and integrity. Yes, there are thorns and brambles
within us, but there is also an abundance of grace. For this, we give praise and
thanks to our loving God in this Eucharist.
Today, we also receive wisdom from the book of Sirach (also called
Ecclesiasticus). Unlike narrative books of Scripture, Sirach consists of wisdom
sayings in various forms—laments, proverbs, and poetry. Our reading today offers
brief, pithy proverbs using images from the author’s culture: a shaken sieve, a
potter’s kiln, and a fruit-bearing tree. These images connect seamlessly with
today’s Gospel.
Sirach teaches that a person’s character is revealed through their thoughts and
speech. This wisdom applies both to individuals and society. What stereotypes
and preconceptions surface in how we speak and act? The challenge is not just
personal—it is communal. As Pope Francis reminds us, our treatment of migrants
and refugees is one way we reveal our character. Are we bearing good fruit?
Click here for a link to this Sunday’s readings: