THE STOREHOUSE OF GOODNESS

Reflection for 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
(Sirach 27:4-7; 1Cor 15:54-58; Lk 6:39-45)
The real battle is in who takes control of the human mind. “When the sieve is shaken, the refuse remains; so a man's filth remains in his thoughts”(Si 27:4). The first reading goes ahead to show that the secret thoughts of a person manifest through his words. “...So the expression of a thought discloses the cultivation of a man's mind. Do not praise a man before you hear him speak, for this is the test of men”(Si 27:6).

Speech is easy, but it is not easy to ‘cultivate’ the mind. Most people are more in a hurry to speak than to take time to cultivate their minds. Speech from an enlightened mind is wisdom, which uplifts the speaker and direct the audience aright. Funny enough, the quest to lead others seems more appealing than the process of formation of a person's mind. One who pays much attention to ‘cultivate’ his mind, to acquire knowledge and good conscience, will not be obsessed with leadership. This is because such a one enjoys authority within himself. But when people are in a hurry to offer advice, correct, criticize or lead, they often end up as blind guides!

So Jesus asked, “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not fall into a pit?” (Lk 6:39). Surely, they will. It is hypocritical for one to neglect his blindness or the log on his eyes while extending guidance to others. Sin has blindfolded us. We can no more see God. This was the predicament of Adam and Eve after they disobeyed. Our vision of life is blurred; the future is far removed and we cannot envision our salvation. Being conscious of our short-sightedness is the first step forward. Like the Pharisees, if we do not admit and work on our ‘blind spots’, we end up as blind guides (cf. Jn 9:40-41). “Lord that I may see”(Mk 10:51).

“We want to see Jesus” (Jn 12:21). He is the True Guide. “In your light we see light” (Ps 36:9). We need Jesus to open our minds, lead us aright, and we follow Him as the Way. Any guide that is not of Christ Jesus will lead us to the pit of hell. “Though the Light has come into the world, people prefer darkness to the light because their deeds were evil” (Jn 3:19). We need to allow the light of Christ to penetrate our innermost being, to enlighten our understanding, and thus, guide our words and actions (cf. Eph 1:18). “For no good tree bears bad fruit...for each tree is known by its fruits”(Lk 6:43-44). Our minds are the storehouse of good and evil. “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks”(Lk 6:45). If the storehouse of our heart and mind are guarded by Jesus Christ, then we will have enough vision for ourselves and for others too.

Therefore, Christ Jesus is the ‘Cultivation’ of our mind! He is the ‘Life' of every living conscience. He is the ‘Living Sieve' that removes filth from our minds. The battle for the control of the human mind has been won! “Death is swallowed up in victory...O Death where is your sting?”(1Cor 15:55). No more shall we allow ‘blind guards' to short-change the eternal vision we have in Christ Jesus. “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor 15:57). Thus we must remain steadfast in faith, and abound in good works.

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Mater Domini Community,
Alulu-Nike,
Enugu,
Nigeria.
Sunday March 3rd, 2019.