Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Good morning to you all. On this eight Sunday of ordinary time, the readings exhort us to form ourselves in imitation of Christ so we can better reflect His goodness in our daily lives.

The first reading from Sirach offers timeless counsel: “the fruit of a tree shows the care it has had: so too does one’s speech disclose the bent of one’s mind. Praise no one before he speaks.” Jesus uses the very same analogy in today’s Gospel reading from Luke. “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.” Jesus explains, “A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good… for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”

In today’s gospel, Jesus teaches us that the quality of our heart determines the quality of our words and actions. He says: “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.”

As Christians, if we live according to the good news, definitely, our actions and words would be guided by it. Consequently, it will affect others positively. On the contrary, if we fill our hearts with flirt, also, our actions and words would be filled with nothingness. Also, Christ warns us today to be careful in judging others. Rather, we should be humble enough to look inwards before criticizing others. Hence, Paul reminds us: “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall” (1Cor10:12).

In the second reading, Paul reminds us that God has given us victory through Christ. For this reason, we must be of good cheers and never relent in doing good. Christ’s victory must not be in vain. Rather, it must sustain us in good actions as Paul tells us today: “Keep laboring at the Lord’s work always, knowing that, in the Lord you cannot be laboring in vain. This is a call to perfection in all we say and do.

Have a Joyful and Blessed Sunday!

Yours in Jesus Christ,
Fr. Doss

BACK TO LIST