A MAN'S WORD BETRAYS HIS ACTIONS

SUNDAY 8 WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C 

A MAN'S WORDS FLOW OUT WHAT FILLS HIS HEART

MY DAILY OFFERING: O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.

First Reading(s) Ecclesiasticus 27:5-8 

The test of a man is in his conversation

In a shaken sieve the rubbish is left behind,

so too the defects of a man appear in his talk.

The kiln tests the work of the potter, the test of a man is in his conversation.

The orchard where a tree grows is judged on the quality of its fruit,

similarly a man’s words betray what he feels.

Do not praise a man before he has spoken, since this is the test of men. Lectures

Responsorial Psalm: It is good to give thanks to you O Lord

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 Death is swallowed up in victory

When this perishable nature has put on imperishability, and when this mortal nature has put on immortality, then the words of scripture will come true: Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? Now the sting of death is sin, and sin gets its power from the Law. So let us thank God for giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Never give in then, my dear brothers, never admit defeat; keep on working at the Lord’s work always, knowing that, in the Lord, you cannot be labouring in vain.

Gospel Luke 6:39-45 Can the blind lead the blind?

Jesus told a parable to his disciples: ‘Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? 

Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye. 

‘There is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces sound fruit. For every tree can be told by its own fruit: people do not pick figs from thorns, nor gather grapes from brambles. A good man draws what is good from the store of goodness in his heart; a bad man draws what is bad from the store of badness. For a man’s words flow out of what fills his heart.’ Reflections

Your Birthday Saint: Saint Gregory of Narek, Abbot and Doctor. May he pray for you as you celebrate your birthday.

My Father in heaven keep guard over my actions. Guide my heart, give me a pure heart. Guide my spirit, let me never be possessed by evil spirits. Guide my mouth and my tongue, to speak edifying words, to sing your praises, to preach peace. Turn my eyes away from evil, from inordinate things around me. May I see the beauty in all your creatures and your creation. Remove deceit from me, make me sound in spirit and body that a may produce good fruits. Give me a good heart that I may reveal your goodness in all my ways.

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. God's Holy Angels pray for me. My Angel Guardian protect me. Guide and guard me. Pray for me.

Pray the Holy Rosary: Our Lady of Peace pray for us.