Posted on febrero 28, 2025 View all Gospel Reflection
‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me….’
What is in a word that gives it power? This little saying, while it has good intentions, is misguided. It seems to imply that unless you are physically harmed then there is no harm done to you. In the Gospel for today, Jesus talks about what comes from within. Certainly, Jesus never advocated getting revenge or physical violence. I mean last week he was talking about turning the other cheek and giving them your tunic if they take your cloak. (cf. Lk. 6:29)
In today’s readings we are invited to reflect on how our interior life, our words and our actions all conform to the life that we aspire to be living as followers of Jesus Christ. St. Paul wrote that “just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.” (1 Cor. 15:49) He recalls that we who were created from the dust of the earth and formed into the image and likeness of God, are now conformed into the image of the New Adam since we have been redeemed by the death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
As we are poised to enter into Lent this week, this is a perfect moment to reflect on how is it that I am living in an authentic manner that call to act in the image of God, to be Christ for others. All too often we think that if we don’t physically hurt people, that is enough. But in fact, all of our deeds whether by physical actions or by words have effect. This is summarized in the very words we heard today: “be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:58)
Jesus would often highlight this when he called out the pharisees and other temple officials who observed many exterior practices of devotion, but on the inside they were hypocritical and selfish. Jesus calls us to examine our own lives so that we might be better positioned to help others. What a striking example he gives us today! “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” (Lk. 6:41) He also reminds us that the fruits of our labors spring forth from our interior life. “A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil.” (Lk. 6:45)
During Lent we often look for something to give up, something to do, or something to pray about. Prayer, Almsgiving and Fasting are the three pillars of a good Lent. Each of these practices helps us to reduce our own selfishness and increase our love of God and neighbor. They also purify our hearts. Some people give up soda, some give up candy, some even give up social media. Imagine if we gave up social media? How much “extra” time would we now have? How much less drama would we get caught up in? How fewer opportunities to sin would there be? Even if it is not a 100% giving up, it could be that you give social media a curfew (like 6 or 7pm).
This opportunity would then yield a space to grow closer to God and closer to others around us. We could take that extra time and pray, or read the Bible. We could take that time and play with our siblings. We could take that time and use it for chores. We could take that time and get extra rest. With each of these benefits, we would be nourishing our interior life so that we can bear good fruit. Let us pray carefully about how we enter into Lent, what we choose to do and how that can lead us to bear good fruit. “For every tree is known by its own fruit.” (Lk. 6:44) In these upcoming 40 days, let each action and each word we speak draw others around us to encounter the Lord. Remembering that Jesus himself is the Word that will bring us eternal life.
