{"id":2815,"date":"2019-03-03T12:30:55","date_gmt":"2019-03-03T17:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=2815"},"modified":"2019-03-03T12:31:34","modified_gmt":"2019-03-03T17:31:34","slug":"8th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-c-homily","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/8th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-c-homily\/","title":{"rendered":"8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

8<\/a>th<\/a><\/sup> Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C<\/a>
Sirach 27:4-7
Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16 (see 2a)
1 Corinthians 15:54-58
Luke 6:39-45
March 3, 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan\na blind person guide a blind person?<\/em>\u201d \nIf they try, they may \u201cboth fall\ninto a pit<\/em>.\u201d  If a blind person went\nwalking down Main Street when the construction is going on, they might end up\nin a trench.  The blind person needs\nsomeone to tell them what they are getting into.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, Jesus is referring to more\nthan just physical blindness.  When we\nface moral choices in our lives, how well do we know what<\/em><\/strong> our faith teaches\nand why<\/em><\/strong>\nso that we can apply it to whatever situations we face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do we even know what sin is?  People don\u2019t take about sin much\nanymore.  Some because they want to\ndownplay, or even hide, their own sins. \nOthers say who are we to judge? \nThey say we shouldn\u2019t force our values on others.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They would take Jesus\u2019 words, \u201cWhy do you notice the splinter in your\nbrother\u2019s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?<\/em>\u201d to\nsupport their position of not talking about the sin of others.  However, Jesus does not say to never \u201cremove the splinter in your brother\u2019s eye.<\/em>\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No, Jesus\u2019 point is that we need to \u201cRemove the wooden beam from your own eye FIRST<\/strong>.<\/em>\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need to acknowledge and address\nour own sins first<\/em><\/strong> and then help our \u201cbrothers\u201d with their sins.  This gives us creditability instead of being\nhypocrites.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we try to talk about the sins of\nothers without first addressing our own brings to mind the saying, \u201cpeople in\nglass houses shouldn\u2019t throw stones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you aware of your own sins?  If you are, are you trying to correct them,\nor do you make excuses why it isn\u2019t that bad? \nIf you aren\u2019t conscience of any sin, is it because you are able to\nresist sin, or do you just not recognize it? \nOr do you ignore it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thing is, even if you fail to see\nyour own sins or fail to correct them, there may be someone else who does see\nyour sins and sees you ignore them.  They\nsee you as the hypocrite when you \u201ccomplain\u201d about the sins of others.  Then, again, we are left without\ncreditability.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be true for us as\nindividuals.  Unfortunately, it is also\ntrue for us as a church right now.  There\nwere perpetuators who committed the terrible sin<\/em><\/strong> of child sex\nabuse.  There is no excuse for this.  If it has happened to you or someone you\nknow, I don\u2019t know what to say except that I am sorry<\/em><\/strong> and pray that you receive\nany help you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If these sins weren\u2019t bad enough,\nthere follows the sin of the coverup. \nRather than confront the problem, it was hidden.  Unfortunately, there were cases where the\npriest was able to continue in their sin because of the church falling short of\ndealing with the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you shake the sieve long enough, \u201cthe husks appear<\/em>.\u201d  So, it is with our sins individually and collectively.  Sooner or later it comes to the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, as a result of the coverup, there\nare those who don\u2019t want to listen to the church because the church\u2019s failure\nto respond appropriately damaged or shattered its moral creditability.  Sin has its consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a church, we need to address the\npast actions of our leaders.  This is\nvery difficult.  People have been hurt\nand suffered.  There is no way to undo\nwhat has happened.  When the scandal\nbroke in 2002, the new \u201ccharter\u201d was issued as a huge positive step\nforward.  However, we have learned in the\npast year it was not enough.  There is\nstill work to be done.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need to pray for the innocent\nvictims of clergy abuse.  We need to pray\nfor the faith of the people affected.  We\nneed to pray for the purification of the church and the renewal of the\nclergy.  We need to pray that we all get\nback to seeing the Lord as the true moral authority.  There is \u201ctruth.\u201d  (Next week, I will be doing a presentation\nabout where we go for truth.)  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus is the way and the truth and\nthe life.  We need to seek this\ntruth.  We need to ask God to lift the\nblindness from our souls so that we might see our sins and deal with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The church has its share of the blame\nto carry, not just because of the coverup of abuse by clergy.  We have fallen short of helping our people\nunderstand not just what <\/em><\/strong>our faith teaches but why. \nWithout this, we do not give people what they need to make good moral\ndecisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who do you go to for answers about\nfaith and morals?  Why?  Do you make sure it isn\u2019t someone who is\nspiritually blind?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, think of the role of\ngodparents.  I think many parents see\npicking godparents as a way of honoring the person.  It is but that is not the purpose.  As much as being chosen a godparent can bestow\nan honor, even more so it bestows a duty<\/em><\/strong>.  A godparent\u2019s duty is to help their godchild\ngrow in faith.  That\u2019s why our Church\nsays the godparent must be baptized, confirmed, and actively practicing their\nfaith.  If they are not living their\nfaith, how can they help their godchild to?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there some sin in your life that\nGod is calling you to work on for Lent this year?  Are you praying for our institutional church\nto be purified and restored to serve as God directs? Let us pray for healing of\nall sins and a return to the fullness of faith.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CSirach 27:4-7Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16 (see 2a)1 Corinthians 15:54-58Luke 6:39-45March 3, 2019 \u201cCan a blind person guide a blind person?\u201d  If they try, they may \u201cboth fall into a pit.\u201d  If a blind person went walking down Main Street when the construction is going on, they might end up …<\/p>\n

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