8th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2022 ©

INTRO: Blind leading the blind
Splinters and beams in our eyes
Good trees and bad trees
good fruits and bad fruits
OH MY!
What is going on here?

REMEMBER …… The GOSPELS are about improving US and so JESUS uses imagery today to accomplish improvement in us.

Let me see if I can explain from my reflections on the readings today what kind of improvement could be possible.

At the end of the parable Jesus singles out SPEECH as an example of the “FRUIT” that a person produces:

“From the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks”

I remember moving in the sixth grade to what we all called THE BIG HOUSE. LOL! Five kids needed more than ONE BATHROOM in the house!!!
AND …. We went to a new school. A BIG school… there were fifty-two kids in my sixth-grade classroom and there were three sixth grade classrooms! Fitting in was quite difficult to say the least.

I grew up as somewhat of a quiet, obedient, non-rebellious child. For the most part did what I was asked to do. That kind of kid!

Well, recess comes on my first day at this school and so I go and see if I can join in the fun and believe me, I was shocked to hear that the boys were using what I call vulgar language.

I was not used to saying those words when I was playing with others and so to fit in, I felt I had to say those kinds of words!!

It worked at recess, but certainly NOT AT HOME, especially with little sisters!!

Anyway, IT HAS BEEN SAID, my friends, THAT using bad language is a sign of the corruption of the heart.

I think this is what we all may need to improve upon.

Our language!
Just reflect a moment.

“What characterizes my own language?”

Jesus wants you and me NOT TO HAVE A CORRUPT HEART that causes one to use the wrong kind of language.

It has been said that language reflects the heart and shapes the heart. Think of poetry, writing sentimental cards to someone, offering a toast at a special occasion.

Do our words constantly honor God? If so, this rules out sarcasm, cutting remarks about others, abusive anger at TV news or even to a person!

CONCLUSION

We are about to receive from this altar of sacrifice the REAL PRESENCE of Jesus Christ, our friend, our savior, our hero to always IMITATE and to IMPROVE OUR HEARTS!

Let us nourish ourselves with Him to act and speak more in His image and likeness and to allow our hearts to be the best loving hearts in all the world!