Luke 6:39-45

Today’s gospel speaks of two themes, of which the first being to judge not our brothers and
sisters for their slights and failings according to our personal standards and expectations,
but rather, direct our focus on our own areas of improvement and reflect on ourselves
before casting judgement on others. The parable of the blind guiding the blind highlights our
tendency to find fault in others when we ourselves may still be guilty of the same. As
mentioned in Matthew Chapter 7v1-5, when casting judgement on others, it must be void of
arrogance and superiority, and instead from a place of Chirstian love, patience and care for
our fellow man. This is echoed by Luke Ch6, when stating “No disciple is superior to the
teacher, but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher”, of which our fellow
brothers and sisters can only emulate and learn from what they can perceive. However, if
we ourselves are still guilty of the same misgivings and faults, they would only practice and
make permanent the same folly and failures as our own. Thus, the gospel reading preaches
of temperance and reflection, to be more mindful and purposeful when acting and speaking.

This is first introduced in the first reading, regarding effective speeches, with mentions of
“the test of a person is in conversation…speech discloses the bent of a person’s
heart…Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested”. All of these
reiterate what is shown in Luke, illustrating the wisdom of knowing when and what should
be said during times of adversity, as it represents and defines one’s character, especially
when we judge hastily, for “When the sieve is shaken, the husks appear”, with the sieve
being the daily challenges and trials we face, and the husks being the impurities that are
exposed. Which leads to the second theme.

The second theme presents how the quality of our good works serves as an indicator for
our holiness. Luke’s gospel states “A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart
produces good… for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks”, which likens good
trees bearing good fruit with good people producing good works. Again, this is also
mentioned previously in the first reading, particularly ““the test of a person is in
conversation…speech discloses the bent of a person’s heart “. Therefore, our growth
towards Christ can be measured by our acts and words. This is reinforced in Matthew
Ch7v15, whereby Matthew’s author recognises the difference between true and false
prophets by the quality of their deeds, which is their fruits. The parable “people do not pick
figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles “, signifies the source of
good deeds stems from good people, as intention and prayer without action is insufficient
to truly gauge the fruits of their beliefs and devotion towards God.

In conclusion, the readings today are a reminder to reflect upon the wisdom of reflecting
upon ourselves first before judging others, as well as our actions being the main indicator of
our growth towards being Christlike.

Francis Benedict Lim