Every tree can be told by its own fruit

 Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C - 27th February 2022

Gospel Luke 6: 39–45

Jesus told a parable to his disciples, ‘Can one blind person guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to the teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like their teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye”, when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.

‘There is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces sound fruit. For every tree can be told by its own fruit; people do not pick figs from thorns, nor gather grapes from brambles. A good person draws what is good from the store of goodness in their heart; a bad person draws what is bad from the store of badness. For a person’s words flow out of their heart.’

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

Coming to my prayer, I do not rush; taking time, I allow myself to become still in body and mind in the presence of God. I ask the Holy Spirit to help me to pray.

I remember that, although I am a sinner, I am also uniquely loved and already forgiven by God, whatever my prayer might reveal to me.

When I am ready, I read these familiar words slowly, perhaps several  mes, noticing the phrases that seem to stand out for me. I ponder these words, sharing my thoughts and feelings with the Lord.

By whom do I allow myself to be led? Perhaps I see circumstances where I am like the one who cannot see and follows blindly.

I ponder my relationships with others. Maybe I try to lead others, but need more discernment, or have a tendency to criticise.

I ask the Lord to show me what I need to see about myself.

Where in my life do I need the guidance of Jesus, my teacher, so that I may reflect his goodness, more and more? I ask for all that I need.

After a while, I end my prayer slowly, giving thanks. Our Father ...

Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C - 20th February 2022 

Gospel Luke 6: 27–38

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening:

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the one who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the one who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the one who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’

"Running over"

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I come to prayer seeking a space clear of inner distractions and clutter, to allow the silence of my soul to deepen. I ask the Holy Spirit to make me more attentive and receptive to my compassionate Father.

I read Jesus’s challenging words slowly, meditatively. I notice and attend to any word or phrase that ‘shimmers’ or lights up with meaning for me.

I savour it, and allow my response to unfold.

I listen in silence for God’s voice ... God’s personal invitation in my particular life circumstance. I speak to my Lord Jesus about what arises.

As I read again, I may feel drawn to cry out to my Father to help me respond to Jesus’s teachings, even if the idea of forgiveness described in this passage feels far beyond me.

Perhaps I yearn to be compassionate as my Father is compassionate ...

I beg for God’s tenderness to grow in the depths of my heart, and for his full measure of gifts to run over into the world ...

I rest in the presence of God and end my prayer slowly with a Glory be.

Click here to read or listen to a one-minute homily on this Sunday's readings!

How happy are you...

 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C - 13th February 2022

Gospel Luke 6: 17, 20–26

Jesus came down with the Twelve and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. Then fixing his eyes on his disciples he said:

‘How happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God. Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied.

Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.

Happy are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, for then your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.

‘But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now. Alas for you who have your fill now: you shall go hungry.

Alas for you who laugh now: you shall mourn and weep.

Alas for you when the world speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.’

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I settle down to pray wherever I can, without interruption. Even with noise around me, I can shut the sounds out, and focus on my prayer.

I read the familiar passage several times. Some phrases may be challenging, others comforting. Maybe some apply to me at the moment? I pause and ponder.

I may be drawn to the beginning of the text, and imagine myself with Jesus, his disciples and the crowd. Where am I sitting?

What do I see in Jesus’s eyes as he looks at me? How do I feel?

Perhaps I get the opportunity to speak to him or to one of his close friends. What do I want to tell them? There might be some point I would like them to explain.

But it could be that all I can do just now is focus on one word. What does it mean to me to be ‘happy’? What do I associate with this word? Is it about contentment, wealth, people, or...?

Eventually, my prayer  me comes to an end; so slowly, I say good bye, thankful for the time spent in the Lord’s company.

Click here to read or listen to a one-minute homily on this Sunday's readings!

Put out into deep water

 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C - 6th February 2022

Gospel Luke 5: 1–11

Jesus was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s – and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch’. ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so,

I will pay out the nets.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled the two boats to sinking point. When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man’. For he and all his companions were completely overcome by the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is men and women you will catch’. Then, bringing their boats back to land, they left everything and followed him.

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I open my heart and mind to the Lord’s loving presence with me as I settle down to pray.

As I slowly immerse myself in the text, it may help to be at the edge of the lake, watching closely as Jesus approaches the fishermen.

What do I notice about Jesus that engenders such trust in them? – that overcomes any reluctance or scepticism I might initially see in their faces? What do I see in their reactions as they struggle to load the catch – incredulity, awe, wonder, perhaps even fear ...?

Maybe I can identify with Peter, overwhelmed by the bounty that has come from trus ng in Jesus. Do I share his sense of not being worthy of the gifts I have been given?

As I hear Jesus tell Peter, James and John not to be afraid of the task they will now take on, what does that mean for me?

When I feel ready, I speak to the Lord, asking him to give me the grace to follow him and leave behind what might keep me from him.

Click here to read or listen to a one-minute homily on this Sunday's readings!