27 Feb 2022
Towards Lent
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For 27 February 2022, Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, based on Luke 6:39–45
Jesus told them a parable: ‘Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, “Friend, let me take out the speck in your eyeâ€, when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye.
‘No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
27 February 2022 @ 8:01 am
Dear Ruth
I am grateful to you for introducing us to the period of Lent!
Our labour will not be in vain in the Lord!
27 February 2022 @ 11:23 am
Grazie, cara Ruth Anne!
So spot on again! I think as a Dominican, justice advocate, Christian–there’s a threefold “occupational disease” at work. I can so quickly spot all lies, injustices and sins–in others especially! Mi accuso!
27 February 2022 @ 7:29 pm
Dear Ruth,
I don’t know if you remember me, I am pretty sure I met you in New Zealand, but don’t know how you ended up in Turin. Your preaching is magic, I listened today with Sr Joan and Fr Mike with whom I have lived and worked since 1991. We were the Thomas More Center preachers giving renewals all over Australia, New Zealand and USA. I loved the work, sharing in group discussions, men and women working together, collaborative ministry. We have now retired but still preach on Word.OP, and have a zoom Mass each week, collecting people who don’t find a home in their parish. I am still as keen on preaching as I ever was, and now our daily prayer is based on http://www.word.op.org. And so we listened to your beautiful homily, so beautiful that Joan incorporated it into our liturgy, with some lovely comments. So please know that you are loved and appreciated. With all love, Nick Punch
27 February 2022 @ 8:24 pm
Dear Nick, I have never been to New Zealand (my closest friend, who’s Italian, lives there with her equally Italian husband, but I’ve never plucked up the courage to face a 27-hour journey to visit them!), so I don’t think we’ve met – unless you’ve been to a European Assembly of Lay Dominicans or to Santa Sabina, where I’ve been many times. I’m a Scot, so already expat – and after Brexit, not even a European citizen. I love the fact that you were part of the Thomas More Centre – he is my personal patron.
It’s immensely encouraging to have positive feedback on our preaching on word.op.org – I’ve been doing it for many years now, and find it a great resource for reflection and stimulation. Please say hallo to Sr Joan and Fr Mike, and all my good wishes to you all, in Dominic. Love – Ruth Anne
28 February 2022 @ 3:43 am
Ruth Anne.
We have an expression “you nailed itâ€, which describes your homily. It was stunning in its scope and simplicity. So much so that we used it at the Zoom Mass we celebrate every weekend for people who are not being fed by the Word in their home parishes. Thank you hardly meets the standard you set.
28 February 2022 @ 8:06 am
Dear Ruth Ann,
So grateful for your challenging preaching to look first for the plank in my/our own eyes before wanting to take bean our of our neighbor’s eye. This is a time to deepen our gospel living by listening and taking to heart, mind and soul the words of Jesus.
Love and prayer for your continued preaching and nourishing us with the gospel challenges,
Brigid, OP