Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Luke 6:39-45
February 27, 2022

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Jesus fired off a series of rapid fire verbal punches that must have made “some people’s” heads spin. By “some people,” I mean the hypocrites in the crowd. And make no mistake about it, there were some wolves in sheep’s clothing standing there, listening and gathering evidence to be used against Him at a later date.

This series of short, powerful teachings is part of what is referred to by Scripture scholars as “The Sermon on the Plain.” Contrast this with Jesus’s other major teaching events.

Remember the time when The Lord stepped into a boat and pushed off a short distance into the lake to address the crowd gathered on shore? And, of course, most everyone is familiar with the “Sermon on the Mount.” Standing above, and looking down on the gathering, Jesus began to teach.

Here, He is on level ground, eye to eye with the folks He is addressing. There was no distance between Him and His listeners. This might be considered an up close and personal “in your face” kind of event. Jesus took full advantage of His position. He pulled no punches. Bam! Bam! Bam!

There is every reason to believe that these spiritual blows landed with a powerful force on the faces of “the hypocrites.” But they didn’t flinch. They simply walked away with the burning sting that comes from being called out in this way. Unmasked, they waited. And then, on Good Friday, they landed what they thought was the knockout punch. Gathered in another crowd, they incited the chant “Crucify Him!” “Crucify Him!” “Crucify Him!”

Blind guides!

The wooden plank in their eyes became the crossbeam on the Cross. But they were still blind. Jesus, on the other hand, was and is still alive.

However, there were other people in the crowd that day…good, honest, and sincere folks, people like YOU! These people were thrilled to be “up close and personal” to The Teacher. Their heads didn’t snap back with each of the little teachings. For them, The Lord’s words were not a slap in the face, but a gentle and loving touch of the heart.

They opened their minds to what the Teacher was teaching. They opened their lives to change. And, in this way, they became “like the teacher”… HUMBLE, TOLERANT, FORGIVING, TRUTHFUL, LOVING, AND EAGER TO SERVE.

Mindful that Ash Wednesday is this coming week, The Church gives us these Readings to reflect on this 8th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Anticipating the Lenten Season, it would be wise to gauge your reaction to The Lord’s “Sermon on the Plain.”

If you felt a gentle touch in your heart (or conscience), then you are ready to begin Lent. You are open to change. You are in touch with what you need to work on. You will use Lent as a time to get up close and personal with Jesus Christ, Who is eager to look you in the eye with His healing, life-giving gaze. For you, the coming season holds the promise of growth that will produce good fruit.

If, on the other hand, your reaction to this Gospel is: He’s certainly NOT talking about me!! Well, then, do not expect a particularly good harvest at the conclusion of these 40 days. If you can’t see or bring yourself to acknowledge what needs to be changed…change won’t come. Who among us (except, of course, those walking around with a plank in their eye) can honestly say: There’s nothing about me that needs to change!

Lent is an exciting time. It’s an opportunity to stand “on the plain,” shoulder to shoulder with other good, honest, and sincere folks. This special Season brings a special invitation to get up close and personal with Jesus Christ. It is an occasion to look the Lord in the eye and ask for the graces necessary to become even more like our Teacher! Lent is the growing Season, that, when taken full advantage of, concludes with an abundant harvest!

So, find a spot on “the plain” and let The Son shine on you! Grow! Change! Produce good fruit