8th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings:
Sirach 27: 4-7
1 Corinthians 15: 54-58
Luke 6: 39-45
Reflection
“A blind cannot lead another blind” Our action follows what is in our hearts. Our interior life shapes our external life. This parable also goes with the saying that one cannot give what one does not have. As our mission is to give our Christian faith to others, we need to have a deep faith experience. And I believe this is possible through developing a strong inner life in union with Christ.
We are coming close to a beautiful season called Lent, where the church gives us the opportunity to build our inner life through Lenten disciplines and reflections so that we may deepen our faith and share it with others.
A strong inner life with God is crucial. Such an inner life gives us the power to see reality in its totality. It shapes our external lives, too. It makes one spiritually attractive. It instils hope and strength in others. It makes us fruitful with an abundance of joy, peace and love, just like a healthy tree bearing good fruits.
Every tree can be told by its fruits. So it is in our spiritual life. Every goodness we bring out through our words and actions speaks of our inner life; our union with Christ.
As Passionists, union with our crucified Christ is our lifestyle. St. Paul of the Cross practised this union profoundly through solitude, prayer and penance. The fruit of his interior life nourished many souls through his preaching and spiritual directions.
May we continue to grow stronger in our interior life that Christ becomes evident in our words and deeds.
Justin Durai Raj CP
St. Joseph’s Community,
Hobart, Tasmania.