Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: March 2, 2025

Date: 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text: Luke 6:39-45

Jesus told his disciples a parable,

“Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.

“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.

“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today is taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain as recounted in the Gospel of Luke. In it Jesus encourages us to learn from Him so that we might more perfectly live as He has taught us. Jesus also reminds us that we must be honest in recognizing and correcting our own sinfulness before judging another. Finally, Jesus underscores the obvious, we will bear the fruit of our authentic self. If we wish to bear good fruit, we must be filled with goodness, we must live lives of goodness spent lovingly.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I seek the LORD’s help in growing into the person He created me to be? Am I judgmental of others? Am I trying to live a life of love as I am called to live?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You desire that we have life and have it in abundance. With love You created us. With love, You sent your only-begotten Son to live among us and to reveal your love for us most perfect through His selfless sacrifice upon the cross of Calvary to vanquish sin and death. Send your Spirit to rouse within us a heartfelt and all encompassing desire to follow in the footsteps of your beloved Son, to live the life He taught us to live, lives of loving purpose, lives in You, with You, and for You. We ask this in the name of your beloved Son, Jesus, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.