1st Reading – Sirach 27:4-7
When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear;
so do one’s faults when one speaks.
As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace,
so in tribulation is the test of the just.
The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had;
so too does one’s speech disclose the bent of one’s mind.
Praise no one before he speaks,
for it is then that people are tested.
The Book of Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus, is one of the Wisdom books of the Old Testament, offering profound teachings on ethics, morality, and reverence for God. Traditionally attributed to Jesus ben Sirach, a Jewish sage who lived in Jerusalem around 200-175 BC, it was originally written in Hebrew and later translated into Greek by his grandson.
In our first reading, Sirach presents short, proverbial statements that offer practical wisdom about human nature, the importance of speech, and how one’s character is revealed through words. Each verse is self-contained, uses vivid imagery, and provides a moral lesson.
When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do a man’s faults when he speaks.
The first proverb uses agricultural imagery to illustrate a profound truth about human nature. Just as wheat, when first harvested, still contains its husk, a person’s true character is often hidden beneath a facade. It is only through the “threshing” of their words — when they speak — that the true nature of a person is revealed and the pretense falls away.
As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace, so in his conversation is the test of a man.
The second proverb uses a different metaphor to teach the same lesson. The furnace, which is used to fire pottery, serves as a metaphor for challenges or trials. Just as the quality of a potter’s vessel is revealed in the heat of the furnace, a person’s true character is revealed through their speech.
The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had; so too does a man’s speech disclose the bent of his mind.
A third and final proverb within the theme: Just as the health and quality of a fruit tree is evident in its fruit, the nature of a person’s mind and thoughts are revealed through their speech.
This directly connects to our gospel reading today, where Jesus warns his disciples that if they want to bear good fruit they must refrain from speaking until proper care has been taken, until they themselves have learned the truth. Only good trees bear good fruit.
By their fruits you shall know them (Matthew 7:16).
Praise no man before he speaks, for it is then that men are tested.
This final instruction summarizes the preceding proverbs: Sirach warns against forming judgments about someone before hearing their words.
2nd Reading – 1 Corinthians 15:54-58
Brothers and sisters:
When this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility
and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality,
then the word that is written shall come about:
Death is swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
The sting of death is sin,
and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters,
be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord,
knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Each year the Church dedicates the time between Christmas and Lent to study 1 Corinthians, reflecting on Paul’s guidance to the early Christian community.
Today our seven-week study concludes with words of joy and thanksgiving to God for the incredible blessings bought by the death and resurrection of our Lord.
Brothers and sisters: When this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality,
This refers to the transformation of our mortal bodies into immortal ones at the resurrection. Our corruptible mortal bodies, subject to decay and death, will be replaced with incorruptible immortal ones, which will never die or decay.
Although he uses the image of putting on garments, he is not suggesting this is merely a change in appearance. It is a radical transformation.
then the word that is written shall come about: “Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
Paul combines and reinterprets two Old Testament texts: Isaiah 25:8 (“He will swallow up death forever”) and Hosea 13:14 (“Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?”).
In doing this, Paul demonstrates that Christ’s victory over death is not a departure from Israel’s sacred traditions but their fulfillment.
The sting of death is sin,
Paul goes on to summarize his teaching on the connections between death, sin, and the Mosaic Law, a teaching which is given in a much more elaborate form in Chapters 5-7 of his Letter to the Romans.
Sin is the sting of death in the sense that death entered the world through sin (Romans 5:12) to do harm to men.
and the power of sin is the law.
The law reveals sin and makes people accountable for it. Sin thrives under the law because it exposes human weakness and inability to meet God’s standards. The law, therefore, gives sin its power by highlighting human failure.
“Without the law sin was weak. It existed, to be sure, but it did not have the power to condemn, because although evil occurred, it was not clearly pointed out. Thus it was no small change which the law brought about. First, it caused us to know sin better, and then it increased the punishment. But if the effect of the law was to increase sin when it meant to check it, that is not the fault of the law but of the way which it was abused” (Saint John Chrysostom (ca. 392 AD), Homilies on the First Epistle to the Corinthians 42,4).
But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul triumphantly proclaims the victory over death and sin that believers have through the resurrection of Christ.
“Christ did not win the victory for himself but for our benefit. For when He became a man, He remained God, and by overcoming the devil, he who never sinned gained the victory for us, who were bound in death because of sin. The death of Christ defeated the devil, who was forced to surrender all those who had died because of sin” (The Ambrosiaster (between 366-384 AD), Commentaries on Thirteen Pauline Epistles).
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
In response to this victory, Paul exhorts believers to stand firm in their faith and continue their labor for the Lord.
Gospel – Luke 6:39-45
Jesus told his disciples a parable,
“Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained,
every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
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;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Today’s gospel reading is a set of parables from Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain that emphasize discernment, personal integrity, and the necessity of a transformed heart.
Jesus told his disciples a parable,
Parables are stories that are structured to draw the audience into a story and lead them to concede a point before realizing it applies to themselves.
However, the word parable in Luke’s Gospel is used not only to describe developed stories; it is also used, as here, to name short proverbial sayings, metaphors, and analogies.
“Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?
Jesus warns his disciples that they must first gain true spiritual insight before attempting to guide others, lest they lead both themselves and their followers into error.
These brand-new disciples have just received radical and challenging teachings, such as the blessings of the poor and hungry (Luke 6:20-21) and the call to love their enemies and do good to those who hate them (Luke 6:27-28). It will take time for them to fully internalize these teachings before they can effectively convey them to others.
No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.
Disciples should not expect to surpass their teacher but should aim to be fully trained and emulate their teacher’s ways.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
Jesus moves on to a hyperbolic image illustrating hypocrisy. The splinter represents a small fault in another person, while the wooden beam is a much greater fault in oneself.
How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
It is absurd to think that anyone is capable of perceiving small imperfections in others when they are unable to perceive massive faults of their own.
You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.
By urging his disciples to examine and correct their own faults before tending to the shortcomings of others, Jesus is instilling a model of humble, self-aware leadership — one rooted in integrity rather than hypocrisy.
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
Jesus shifts to a horticultural metaphor to further illustrate his meaning.
One can distinguish a good tree from a bad tree by examining the fruit the tree produces because a tree brings forth the fruit it is disposed to bring forth:
- good tree → good fruit
- rotten tree → rotten fruit
- fig tree → figs
- grapevine → grapes
It’s important to point out that a tree’s fruit does not dictate the kind of tree it is, but the other way around. So it is with people: We don’t begin bearing good fruit in order to become good trees!
Because every disciple will be like his teacher (verse 40), an authentic union with Jesus will make us “good trees.”
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; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Jesus points to inner transformation as the key to righteousness: the condition of our heart determines the fruit we bear.
This aligns with Proverbs 4:23: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Connections and Themes
The fruit of a disciple’s life. In our first reading, Sirach reflects on how a person’s true character is revealed through their actions, emphasizing the connection between a tree and its fruit: “The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had…” Similarly, Jesus uses the analogy of trees and their fruit to underscore how a person’s inner disposition produces visible actions. Both readings stress that one’s external behavior reflects their inner spiritual state, and that a life of integrity is necessary for bearing good fruit. These readings call us to examine our hearts and actions, reminding us that what we treasure reflects who we truly are.
The transformative victory over death. In our second reading, Paul proclaims the ultimate victory over death, affirming that Christ’s resurrection has transformed the believer’s life — turning weakness into strength and mortality into immortality. This victory brings a new identity for believers, one that empowers them to live in a way that reflects this transformation. It also equips them to lead others according to Jesus’ commands. The spiritual vision necessary for effective leadership flows from the power of the resurrection, enabling believers to live with the clarity and moral integrity that Christ’s life and resurrection provide. Ultimately, it is the life-changing power of Christ’s victory over death that empowers believers to live rightly and bear good fruit.
Integrity in leadership. Our readings also highlight the essential role of integrity in leadership, especially when it comes to how leaders speak and act. Our first reading points out that a person’s words reflect their character: “When a sieve is shaken, the refuse is left behind; so too the defects of a person appear in his words.” Leaders must cultivate integrity in their speech, for their words are a direct reflection of their inner character. In the gospel reading, Jesus warns against the hypocrisy of leading others without first examining one’s own faults, stating that “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”
Effective Christian leadership requires integrity in both actions and speech, marked by honesty, humility, and clarity. Leaders must embody the virtues they teach, ensuring their words align with their actions and their leadership is rooted in spiritual transformation.
Sunday Readings 