Homily: 8th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Lk 6:39-45) “Seeing Eye to Eye”

We are all sinners.  We all know that to be true.  We don’t like to admit it though.  We are all embarrassed by our faults. We don’t want to dwell on them. 

 The Book of Sirach is part of the Wisdom Literature of the Bible. Wisdom isn’t the same as knowledge. A piece of wisdom is a timeless truth.  Someone might be very talented when it comes to using technology.  Perhaps they love to read instructions about how their cell phone works.  Perhaps they immerse themselves in reading specifications dealing with their laptop computer so they can manipulate these things, but this doesn’t make them wise.  Eighteen months from now there will be new computers.  Five years from now there may be completely different technology.  At that point the information that seems so impressive today will no longer be relevant. Wisdom isn’t like that.  The truths that were written down over two thousand years ago in the Book of Sirach are still valuable now.   

Today in the Book of Sirach the writer shares truths about human nature. The author observes that if we have negative thoughts about people, we might keep them to ourselves.  If we have made judgements about situations which we are mad about we may not share them.  But in an unguarded moment when we verbalize our opinions, we might surprise others with our attitudes.  We might also surprise ourselves with the verbal violence that wells up from within us. 

Sirach uses several earthy examples to make this point.  The writer says that when a clay pot is put in a kiln we find out if it is sound or not.  At times the pot will break when the heat is turned up.  The writer of Sirach also uses the example of a fruit tree.  When it is time to taste the fruit from a tree, we may find out how well it has been cared for.  The fruit might be very pleasing to the eye, but it may be sour.  When we share our deepest beliefs with others it is the moment of truth.  What we say will show how holy we really are. 

What type of person handles themselves well when they have to offer a judgement about others?  The person who is in touch with their own faults is the one who usually has the most empathy. On the other hand, a person who isn’t self-reflective is the type of person who offers cruel judgements about others. 

Jesus puts it well in the Gospel today.  He asks, “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother let me remove that splinter from in your eye,’ when you don’t even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?  Jesus says this is hypocritical.  And truly that is a bit of wisdom that can serve us well.   

Today as we reflect during this liturgy, we might think of Pope Francis.  He is coming to the end of his time as pontiff.  What will we remember about him?  We might remember that he was a person who always tried to tell the truth about himself. When Pope Francis first became Pope, he told a story about his early life that greatly influences his approach to leadership. 

Francis was ordained to the priesthood in the late 1960’s. He was part of the Jesuit order.  He became a provincial superior when he was only ordained for a few years.  He was in his thirties. The times were very difficult in Argentina.  The military ruled the country.  Francis had to make hard choices about how to resist the injustices that were occurring.  Pope Francis said that he had made mistakes.  He admitted he was too young to lead his fellow Jesuits.  He also admitted that he misused the authority that he had been entrusted with.  When he was no longer a superior of the Jesuits he was given a lesser assignment for many years.  He had to come to terms with his mistakes. 

Later, when he was elevated to the office of bishop, he tried to exercise authority differently.  When he was elected Pope, he had the belief that he was going to try to be a Pope who listened. He will be remembered as a Church leader who thought it important to be in touch with his own humanity.  He will also be remembered as a Pope who apologized when he realized he made mistakes. He would be the first to say he wasn’t a perfect pontiff. 

Jesus would appreciate this type of leadership.  As Lent begins, we are asked to spend these forty days looking for the splinters in our own eyes, so we will be more compassionate with others.  May we all use this time of introspection well, so we may grow to be the holy people we are called to be.