Homily March 2, 2025

8th Sunday of  Ordinary Time (C) 

Eccl. 27:5-8; Cor 15:54-58; Luke 6:39-45

Over the past few Sundays, we have been reading through Jesus’ great proclamation of the Christian moral life in the Sermon on the Plain. Today we come to the final section, and here the focus is on the disciple. What kind of person is a good disciple? 

Some years ago, early in his pontificate, Pope Francis made a simple statement that got a lot of attention. I know all long he has made some statements that have raised eyebrows, especially when taken out of context. He made this particular one in response to a question from an Italian journalist who was conducting an interview for a magazine. When asked who he was --- to sort of describe himself --- the Pope responded very simply and directly . . . “I am a sinner.”

Those who subsequently heard or read what the Pope had said were affected in many different ways.  The most common reaction to those four simple words was . . .. Complete surprise!! So unexpected. Something they couldn’t really remember any popes saying before. 

The reaction of surprise by many (Catholics and non-Catholics alike) got me wondering about something related to what he said. For many people, this was an odd sort of occurrence. They didn’t see this often, if ever. They were not used to people --- and in this particular case, a person of high status---being so humble. So vulnerable. So honest and transparent.

Is true humility rare in our society? Is it rare in Church leaders, in our homes and schools? Is true humility rare in this very church, in our pews? Is it rare in you and in me?

“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?”

Jesus cautions his disciples and all of us in today’s Gospel passage. The image Jesus paints is truly a powerful one --- particularly in the way he uses a “splinter” to represent the fault of someone else, while choosing to use a “wooden beam” to represent the fault of the one doing the judging. What also makes these words powerful is the fact that many of us, if we take an honest look within, can see ourselves like the very people Jesus is admonishing. We find ourselves doing the very thing Jesus has a serious problem with. We put people down. We criticize. We point out their faults. We gossip and we judge.! That’s where we can really learn from the now ailing Holy Father, Pope Francis.  We need to cultivate true humility by taking that critical first step and admit, “I am a sinner.” 

Note the gospel passage ends with Jesus' suggestions about where to seek good fruit. And he sums it all up, saying, "from the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks." So, what will lead us to wisdom of heart? 

First, we need enough humility and self-knowledge to recognize that we are all blind in some ways and that we need one another's discerning guidance. Second, we need to cultivate awareness that the fault we dislike and criticize in another might be a reflection of our own failings. We are called to live with integrity, to be congruent with who we say we are, and we do. 

On Wednesday this week we will begin the season of Lent. As we think about what practice of penance we will embrace, it is often easier to come up with penances for other people- our spouse, children, colleagues, or friends than it is for ourselves. Probably, let your Lenten practice this year include fasting from speech that tears others down. It is our actions and words that show our true hearts. The Church is made up of imperfect people held together by a perfect love.