Just as a bad tree cannot bear any good fruit or polluted wells do not offer any drinkable water, what comes from within us is—what we are (and seen by others).
Today’s gospel reading uses a number of well-known parables to make a powerful point: that what comes out of us—our words and deeds—is who we are. The Savior of the world then uses these parables to reinforce the point that we cannot correct the wrongs of others when we ourselves are “doing wrong” (the beam in our eye blocks our vision as we try to remove the splinter in another’s eye) or that if we are unchristian in our words or deeds—how can we direct others in the way of the Christian life? The first reading today from the Book of Sirach illustrates that we can measure a person’s character by how the person speaks. The gospel reaffirms that thought by saying “every tree is known by its own fruit.” In other words, the secrets of the heart are revealed by the words of the mouth and actions of the body.
But of course, it is always easier for us to look outwardly rather than to reflect inwardly—to find the fault in another when our own weaknesses are right before us. It is, I suppose, the power of evil and the call of indifference—directing us to place blame on another rather than to correct our own ill ways. Each day, Catholics are asked to do what is called an examination of conscious, calling us to review the events of our day—in words, deeds, thoughts and interactions with others in light of the core values of our faith. This need take only a brief time—five or ten minutes—it does not have to become a “ritual” unto itself. In doing this, we can then recognize where we have sinned against God as we sin against others during our day and seek His forgiveness in Confession.
The goal of this weekend’s Sacred Scriptures and the idea of the examination of conscious is to keep us in right relationship with God through our right relationships with others—just as we hear each time we listen to Eucharistic Prayer II in the words of the priest: “Thank you for counting us worthy to be in Your presence and minister to You.” We minister to the unseen God in our daily words and deeds offered to and with others. Keeping in mind, those words and deeds are manifestations of our conscious, heart and soul. Again in another parable, “No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.”: Knowing not only what Jesus taught us but why He taught us this is the point of our faith (to know and to accept Truth). To quote NBC News’ tag line, which I rarely do, The More You Know…truly applies to our lived-faith experience. Below is a brief examination of conscious from the USSCB and is based on the Ten Commandments:
I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me. Have I treated people, events, or things as more important than God?
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Have my words, actively or passively, put down God, the Church, or people?
Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day. Do I go to Mass every Sunday (or Saturday Vigil) and on Holy Days of Obligation (Jan. 1; the Ascension; Aug. 15; Nov. 1; Dec. 8; Dec. 25)? Do I avoid, when possible, work that impedes worship to God, joy for the Lord’s Day, and proper relaxation of mind and body? Do I look for ways to spend time with family or in service on Sunday?
Honor your father and your mother. Do I show my parents due respect? Do I seek to maintain good communication with my parents where possible? Do I criticize them for lacking skills I think they should have?
You shall not kill. Have I harmed another through physical, verbal, or emotional means, including gossip or manipulation of any kind?
You shall not commit adultery. Have I respected the physical and sexual dignity of others and of myself?
You shall not steal. Have I taken or wasted time or resources that belonged to another?
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Have I gossiped, told lies, or embellished stories at the expense of another?
You shall not covet your neighbor’s spouse. Have I honored my spouse with my full affection and exclusive love? Y
ou shall not covet your neighbor’s goods. Am I content with my own means and needs, or do I compare myself to others unnecessarily?