A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks

 

 And He spoke a parable to them:  "Can the blind lead the blind?  Will they not both fall into the ditch?  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.  

 

"For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  For every tree is known by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?  Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:  He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.  But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.  And the ruin of that house was great."

 

- Luke 6:39–49 

 

 We are currently reading through the Sermon on the Plain, found in the Gospel of Luke.  On Saturday, we read that Jesus taught, "But I say to you who hear:  Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.  To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also.  And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.  Give to everyone who asks of you.  And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.  And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.  But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners do the same.  And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.  But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.  For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.  Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.  Judge not, and you shall not be judged.  Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you:  good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

 

 And He spoke a parable to them:  "Can the blind lead the blind?  Will they not both fall into the ditch?  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher."  Christ does not judge anyone (John 8:15; 12:47), my study Bible notes.  It cites the commentary of St. Cyril of Alexandria, saying that therefore, "if the Teacher does not judge, neither must the disciple, for the disciple is guilty of worse sins than those for which he judges others."

"And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye."  This is an argument teaching us that we're to focus on on our own flaws, and to practice self-correction.  Jesus is addressing this sermon to His disciples, who will one day become elders of His Church; therefore, how will they correct others when they have no correction of their own flaws?  How will they understand repentance if they have none themselves?

"For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  For every tree is known by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."  Without our own repentance and ongoing process of correction, our internal reality can only reflect the flaws, the falsehood, and thus direct our outward actions, our fruits.  Therefore we make choices, and we must be aware of our own missteps and mistakes, choosing the good treasure and not the evil.  If we would be teachers like the Teacher, this must be the requirement first.

 

  "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?  Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:  He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.  But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.  And the ruin of that house was great."  My study Bible comments here that hearing the gospel only is not enough.  Salvation is not based on hearing alone, not even on faith alone, but on doing the things spoken by Christ (see James 2:24).  

In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, Jesus uses vivid metaphors for removing from ourselves faults and flaws that cause unrighteous behavior.  In Matthew 18, He teaches, "If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell" (Matthew 18:8-9).  In that particular instance, this teaching comes in the context of doing harm to a "little one."  More importantly, it comes after a question by the disciples as to who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (see Matthew 18:1-7).  In that context, Jesus' teaching can be understood as warning these future leaders in His Church against abuse, especially against those of lower stature, the vulnerable, those who will come to them for guidance.  And eye can look with covetousness or lust, a hand can reach out to strike or to grasp where it doesn't belong, a foot can stray over boundaries not meant to be crossed.  This is Jesus telling us about self-correction, about casting off even those things -- our impulses and desires -- that seem as much a part of us as hand, or eye, or foot.  Here in today's reading Jesus is teaching the principle of self-correction before we are ever in a position to correct another person.  Again, as discussed above, Jesus is addressing the Sermon on the Plain to a great multitude, but we're told that before He began speaking, He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples (Luke 6:20).  Therefore, these teachings are specifically directed to those who follow Him.  And in His words here, we can see that they are directly given to those who are being trained by a teacher, and what that means.  There is a mutual correction among "brothers" (fellow disciples) also implied here:  "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye."  It's clear that we are meant, in our discipleship under Christ, to grow into something, to become more like our Teacher.  We can't do that unless we are prepared to cast off what makes us unlike the Teacher, and with the help of our Lord and the Holy Spirit, this becomes an ontological effort.  That is, it's not just the outside that changes, but the inner person.  He makes this clear when He likens human beings to trees that bear fruit:  it's the tree that must be good before it will bear good fruit.  It is taken even further and made really clear to us when He speaks of the heart:  "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."  Perhaps the greatest pejorative Christ uses about those whom He does not want us to be like is in this one-word sentence:  "Hypocrite!"  He, of course, will aim this criticism at the religious leaders (see Matthew 23).  But here He applies it to would-be disciples who do not put in the effort at personal change, paying attention to their own problematic impulses and desires, and applying correction.  This is because, as He says very clearly, the things we're blind to in ourselves so often wind up projected onto others.  We may very well understand -- for instance -- and see something that others do that we think is selfish or greedy, but the much bigger plank in our own eye is our own selfishness and greed that we're blind to.  Without a prayerful attitude, a mindfulness that is focused on God and where God leads us, even taking us to our own need for personal correction, we might very well cultivate the attitude of the Pharisees who "strain at a gnat and swallow a camel" (Matthew 23:23-24).  The historical practices offered by the Church:  prayer, fasting, worship services, confession, and a true understanding of repentance, all emphasize the condition of the heart, and this foundational assumption given to us by Jesus in today's reading that "a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit" -- that "a good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."   Therefore we guard our hearts, we pay attention to the inside, the inner part of what it is to be human, and not just the outside.  The big emphasis here is on the condition of our own hearts, and not only does our outward "fruit" depend upon that, but even our ability to see clearly if we want to correct what is around us.  Not only do we need to have that spiritual experience of what it is to grow, to change, to be corrected, to be alert for our own flaws and impulses, but we'll be useless as disciples and good teachers for others without it.  Correction isn't about judgment and condemnation; it's meant to be for the betterment of all.  Ultimately, this is what repentance is all about.  So how is one not accustomed to putting in that difficult work of personal change going to be able to truly help another?  Christ Himself became human in His Incarnation so that He could be our true Teacher.  He became one of us.  In all things, He brings compassion to human beings.  So it is with ourselves.  Unless we also follow and put in that spiritual effort, how can we view others with compassion who must do the same?  Jesus' answer is that we won't even be able to see clearly without it.  Let us take His words to heart!

 

 

 

Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock

 

 And He spoke a parable to them:  "Can the blind lead the blind?  Will they not both fall into the ditch?  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.  For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  For every tree is known by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?  Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:  He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.  But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.  And the ruin of that house was great."

 

- Luke 6:39-49 

 

In our recent readings, Jesus is giving what is known as the Sermon on the Plain (starting with Friday's reading).  The content is similar to that in the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew's Gospel (Matthew 5 - 7), as undoubtedly Jesus preached His gospel in many places.  On Saturday, we read that He taught, "But I say to you who hear:  Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.  To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also.  And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.  Give to everyone who asks of you.  And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.  And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.  But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners do the same.  And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.  But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.  For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.  Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.  Judge not, and you shall not be judged.  Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you:  good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." 

 And He spoke a parable to them:  "Can the blind lead the blind?  Will they not both fall into the ditch?  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.  For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  For every tree is known by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."  My study Bible notes here that Christ does not judge anyone (John 8:15, 12:47).  So, says St. Cyril of Alexandria in a commentary on this passage, "if the Teacher does not judge, neither must the disciple, for the disciple is guilty of worse sins than those for which he judges others."    There is clear encouragement toward discipleship here; that through discipline and practice, we are called to better things, even to change ourselves -- to make the tree "good" and therefore to produce good fruit.  He disparages hypocrisy, and says that we can and must do something about it.  If we can remove the plank from our own eye, we can remove from the heart that which does not bring out good.  And this He calls us to do.

 

 "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?  Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:  He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.  But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.  And the ruin of that house was great."  My study Bible comments that hearing the gospel alone is not enough, for salvation is based not on hearing alone, but also on doing the things spoken by Christ (James 2:24).  Again, as above, let us note the emphasis Jesus places on doing, exhorting us to put our effort into living the gospel.  Indeed, the warning here is that if we do not do so, we risk ruin.

In today's reading, Jesus exhorts us to realize our capacity for change, for transformation.  If we look back on His Sermon on the Plain, we see His plea for us to realize a type of freedom in our capacity to choose not just what we do, but how we will think, what our habits will be.  In Saturday's reading, He taught, "But I say to you who hear:  Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you," and He goes on to give many examples of such behavior.  He encourages us to think beyond our immediate reflexes, not to simply imitate the world, but to have the capacity for choice, always ready to do the "better" thing.  This is a deep emphasis on freedom, the opposite of slavery.  In today's reading, He again emphasizes that we are not simply slaves to our impulses, to the ways that others have treated us, to the things we learn from the world.  He calls us, in fact, to be quite different from that, and to exercise the powers we have for choice, even if it is to change what we are inside.  There are a lot of people who question even the capacity for change, who will tell you they are just born a certain way, or who will make excuses even for abusive habits that harm others, for the inability to learn to deal with behavior that simply acts out something destructive, like anger.  But even if we were born into a life in which we have faced abuse, or the "language" of anger surrounded us as children, we still have choices -- and this is the depth of assertion that underlies Christ's teachings here.  We might be used to constant criticism, or we're surrounded by people (perhaps on social media) where constant criticism, and attacks upon those whom we don't like, are the fare of the day.  But what Jesus calls us out on is our hypocrisy.  Do you think someone else is abusive and hateful?  Try looking into your own mirror, finding the "plank" in your own eye that blinds you to yourself and your own behavior.  Even if criticism is helpful, it really isn't helpful unless it's from someone who has been there and done that, and and dealt with their own issues on the subject already.  He expects His disciples to struggle with their own impulses and toxic behaviors -- because that's really the one way you can best "see" to help others do the same.  Jesus teaches us, "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  For every tree is known by its own fruit."  What does that mean exactly, how shall we take it?  We're the "trees," and it's our job to think about the dead branches in us that produce nothing; that is, the bad habits that produce toxic or harmful effects, the dead ends that go nowhere and create nothing good -- of the kind of lasting value that He wants from us.  He tells us that "every tree is known by its own fruit," and that "a good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."   When He speaks of the heart, He speaks about the depths within us, the center of who we are.  He's asserting that we can thread out the impulses that cause harm, and in so doing we will build our own capacity for doing good -- especially in the things that we say to others.  It depends upon which is our treasure -- that out of that particular abundance our mouth will speak to others.  How many people today have this consciousness of self-discipline?  Jesus encourages compassion at all times -- even when criticism is seen as a good and instructive thing, it is only certain to be so if it's done with the compassion that comes from having gone through the same struggle, correcting our own bad habits that we can see in others.  To love one's enemies is to see them as human beings, even when they are causing harm to us.  This is a very tall order, and yet Christ confidently asserts that this is what He wants of us, clearly asserting that we are capable of such.  He returns to the emphasis on what we say to others, encouraging us to an inner change that will have an effect on what comes out of our mouths, what we produce with our lives.  Finally, there is the assertion that all of this is of such importance that it is something more than simply elective on our part.  Unless we build the houses of our lives upon the foundation of His teachings, He assures us of ruin.  For it is His way only that is certain, that will stand us in good stead when the storms of life come, that will help us to endure -- for we've built ourselves up upon a sure thing, and not an abstract fantasy.  Ultimately, everything in Christ's teachings leads us back to love -- and specifically the love He teaches, that comes from Him, that is rooted in God.  For this is the foundation for our capacity for compassion, for compassion for the changes we need to make, resting assured that we do so embraced not by condemnation, but by the love of God and God's compassion and mercy for us.  It is this that is the foundation for a sure life, the one thing that will remain when life can challenge everything else.  We need the flexibility to change in His way, to adapt to life by following where His love leads, and to let go of what doesn't work and what ends in futility.  He teaches that we have the freedom and the capacity to do so -- and that the one thing necessary is to rest within the trust of His love to guide us through.  Let the world hate; we are guided by a different spirit, and we take confidence that we can grow in His better way.  We have good things to build up, that the world needs as well as those whom we love and who depend upon us.  Let's not waste time on anything less, for we build our house on His rock of  faith.  Even when the world seems to be filled with the blind who lead the blind, we are still called to see by His light, and to live by His currency of love.  In his great discourse on love (1 Corinthians 13), St. Paul tells us, "Love never fails," and that it is the completeness of love which we await.  St. Paul writes, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."  This is the rock upon which Christ asks us to build our lives.  

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher

 

 And He spoke a parable to them:  "Can the blind lead the blind?  Will they not both fall into the ditch?  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.

"For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  For every tree is known by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.  

"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?  Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:  He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.  But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.  And the ruin of that house was great."

 

- Luke 6:39–49 

 

In yesterday's reading, we continued reading what is called the Sermon on the Plain (begun in this reading):  "But I say to you who hear:  Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.  To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also.  And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.  Give to everyone who asks of you.  And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.  And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.  But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners do the same.  And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.  But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.  For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.  Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.  Judge not, and you shall not be judged.  Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you:  good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." 

And He spoke a parable to them:  "Can the blind lead the blind?  Will they not both fall into the ditch?  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher."  My study bible comments that Christ does not judge anyone (John 8:15, 12:47).  So, therefore, St. Cyril of Alexandria writes, "if the Teacher does not judge, neither must the disciple, for the disciple is guilty of worse sins than those for which he judges others."

"And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye."  This is a very wise teaching about discernment and experience, and also about mutual correction among believers.  Without knowing ourselves and our own flaws, and having had the experience of correction, repentance, and personal change, how can we truly help others?  How can we "see" clearly to correct others.  Hypocrisy prevents us from true insight and giving true assistance, often projecting our own flaws onto others if we are not self-aware.  Self-knowledge, repentance, and change has been the goal of monastic life from Christianity's early beginnings.

"For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  For every tree is known by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."  Again, this is a call to self-knowledge and transformation within the workings of grace and repentance.  Jesus says that "out of the abundance of the heart" one's "mouth speaks."  This reflects a disciple's true work of faith within the place of the heart.  He asks us for an awareness of our true state, and the ongoing work of discipleship toward this goal of "good treasure of the heart."

"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?  Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:  He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.  But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.  And the ruin of that house was great."  My study bible comments that hearing the gospel alone is not enough.  Salvation is based not on hearing alone, nor on faith alone, but also on doing the things spoken by Christ (see James 2:24). 

Jesus speaks of the process of ongoing repentance, the work of discipleship.  This is clearly a call to self-knowledge, of being aware of one's own flaws, and doing something about it.  The earliest forms of confession were not simply about confessing one's sin, but -- in a certain sense prefiguring psychotherapy -- coming to know oneself.  That is, expressing to a confessor all the things going on in one's life.  Today, possibly particularly in the Orthodox tradition, this remains a part of spiritual discipleship, of having a spiritual elder who helps guide the path of Christian faith.  That person is called an "elder" not because of age necessarily, but precisely because of spiritual experience.  That is, a familiarity with one's own flaws and shortcomings, and what repentance means in practice.  Christ speaks most tellingly of the condition of the heart, and implies clearly that this is something for which we are responsible.  To be sure, we cannot control all the factors in our lives that have contributed to our shortcomings, character flaws, hurts, learned responses, and even damage to the soul.  But discipleship means taking ownership and responsibility for what we do with these things, how we seek out, through our faith, to live our lives and to be consciously aware of the choices we make.  So much so, that it is the depth of the heart that Christ stresses in today's part of the Sermon on the Plain.  Christ asks us to understand that growth in the image of God, in "God-likeness," is what discipleship is all about.  He teaches us that we are, in fact, far more capable of growth, change, and flexibility than we think.  We are not carved in stone at birth, or through our experiences.  But it is the grace and help of the Teacher that helps us to become more "like Him."  This is what our faith teaches us.  Let us remember, when we pray, that ultimately it is the state of the heart that produces what we do in life.  Therefore we take care of the heart, pruning what needs pruning, developing what needs developing, and hopefully growing in the fruits of the Spirit which He asks of us.  

But why do you call Me "Lord, Lord," and not do the things which I say?

 "And He spoke a parable to them:  "Can the blind lead the blind?  Will they not both fall into the ditch?  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the lank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.

"For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  For every tree is known by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?  Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:  He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.  But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.  And the ruin of that house was great."

- Luke 6:39-49

In our current readings, Jesus has been preaching the Sermon on the Plain, which began with Friday's reading.  On Saturday we read that Jesus taught:  "But I say to you who hear:  Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.  To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also.  And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.  Give to everyone who asks of you.  And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.  And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.  But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners do the same.  And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.  But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.  For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.  Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.  Judge not, and you shall not be judged.  Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you:  good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

 "And He spoke a parable to them:  "Can the blind lead the blind?  Will they not both fall into the ditch?  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the lank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye."  Jesus builds on His teaching about mercy.  Here, He calls His disciples to be like Him.  My study bible comments that Christ does not judge anyone (John 8:15; 12:47).  Therefore, as Cyril of Alexandria comments, "if the Teacher does not judge, neither must the disciple, for the disciple is guilty of worse sins than those for which he judges others."  Let us note that in speaking to His disciples, He is preparing those who will be leaders and teachers in His Church.  Thereby, they must rigorously practice His sayings, otherwise, as teachers themselves, they will be the blind who lead the blind.  If we are not aware of where we ourselves come up short regarding these teachings by Jesus, then we cannot possibly help others with their own shortcomings. 

"For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  For every tree is known by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."   This is a call to self-awareness and to ascetic practice, an active working at what is within us -- and to discard that which cannot comply with His teachings on mercy (see yesterday's reading, above).  We are to make the tree good by choosing what our treasure is, and discarding the tendencies contrary to what is good.  This teaching about good trees and bad is found in several places in the New Testament; but here Christ calls His apostles to true self-awareness and active decision to follow the discipleship of His commandments.  Jesus calls us to rigorous discipline:  His mercy is not about condoning sinful, abusive behavior.  Discipleship is a rigorous practice which begins with one's inner life.  Both Origen and Bede comment on this passage by referring to St. Paul, and his explanation of good and bad "fruits."  Origen comments that the "good tree" is the Holy Spirit, and the bad the devil and his underlings.  The bad fruits are found at Galatians 5:19-21, which is followed by the good:  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."

"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?"  Bede adds a comment here to say that to call upon the Lord seems to be the gift of a good treasure, the fruits of a good tree.  "For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved" (Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13).   But to fail to follow what is spoken is to expose not a good treasure of the heart, but a false one. 

"Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:  He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.  But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.  And the ruin of that house was great."  Jesus gives us a warning about the necessity of not merely calling upon the Lord, but following through with fruits -- what we do must reflect the a heart that has taken in His teachings.  This is the firm foundation in life, built by Christ for us to withstand all assaults.  Without following through by our cooperation with grace, choosing as we're guided, we haven't the solid foundation nor home He offers.

How can we call upon the Lord, and yet fail to follow through with choices that reflect His commands?  It seems to then that we don't really "treasure" what it is we receive in response.  Jesus' sermon clearly targets His disciples, those to whom He lifted up His eyes as He began to preach this sermon (see Friday's reading).  So how seriously do we take discipleship?  Let us note Jesus' main teachings here throughout this Sermon on the Plain are all about the practice of mercy and lack of judgment.   The central teaching relies on our dependence upon God the Father, and the gifts of grace and mercy we receive and are to share with others.  In today's reading, He speaks of the good treasure of the heart, the good tree that gives good fruit.  How much do we really treasure what we receive from Him?  How do we value that which we receive when we call upon His name?  A solid house with a solid foundation is a description of that which results when we truly treasure His gifts, and follow through in faith with what we're taught.  We build up a discipline, based on the solid foundation of rock, a house built through His commands.  Jesus illustrates the importance of such a house with such a firm foundation by suggesting what happens when floods and storms come.  All around us we are constantly presented with temptations to join into the passions that others seek to deliberately manipulate in us.  Our use of social media can result in all kinds of persuasions and influences for us to lose ourselves in emotion, in following a crowd of one opinion or another, in calling for vengeance and retribution, facile judgment not based on cool or sober decisions.  What we read in the words of Jesus today is precisely against following such crowds.  They are the storms that beat down and cause the floods that might sweep us away.  But He wants us to learn how to remain firmly upon His rock, within His teachings, and not be swept away by such temptations.  In this is the practice of virtue most important, because it ingrains and gives us practice with habits -- with the things we will then treasure in the heart -- for when those times come.  Without this follow-through, we don't build the home He gives us guidance, instruction, and the solid foundation for.  All around us we seem to find public figures who celebrate being swept away by passion, by anger, by outrage, by fear.  None of this is in accordance with what Christ teaches us about good judgment, self-awareness, the practice of mercy and grace as given to us by God.  As His disciples, we are to remain just that:  firmly in His discipline, remembering His teachings, practicing the dispassion and discipline He asks of us.  Ascetic practice prizes detachment, dispassion, learning to reach for that good treasure of the heart, rather than today's frenzy of the crowd.  Are we capable of being that person, that disciple?  It takes practice, but this is precisely where mercy and good judgment are, the center of the heart shored up with good treasure, built up by our actions and follow-through in support of His word.  This is the dwelling-place of grace.

Can the blind lead the blind?

And He spoke a parable to them:  "Can the blind lead the blind?  Will they not both fall into the ditch?  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.

For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  For every tree is known by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.  But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?  Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:  He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.  But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.  And the ruin of that house was great."

- Luke 6:39-49

 On Saturday, we read Jesus' continuing Sermon on the Plain.  (This Sermon began in the reading for Friday, after Jesus chose His Twelve Apostles from among His disciples.  See Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.)  In Saturday's reading, Jesus taught His disciples, "Love your enemies, do good for those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you."  He said, "Just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise."  He offered us an image of an exchange of a "worldly" kingdom for this kingdom of God:  "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.  For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.  Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful."  He also taught about judgment:  "Judge not, and you shall not be judged.  Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you:  good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  for with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

And He spoke a parable to them:  "Can the blind lead the blind?  Will they not both fall into the ditch?  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher."  Here Jesus is teaching those who would be His disciples that they must be like their teacher.  It's not enough just to have Him as our teacher, we must become like Him.  Remember, a disciple is a learner, one who will also in turn teach others.  My study bible puts it this way:  "Spoken to the disciples, these words are an exhortation to discernment and imitation of Christ in their training for the apostolic ministry."

"And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye."  Here we have the call to self-awareness.  How can we help others unless we ourselves understand what it is to "remove our specks" - or even the plank that is in our own eye?  Jesus' greatest criticism is constantly in this word, "Hypocrite."  In the Greek, its literal meaning is "actor."  In the ancient world, one who puts on a false face or mask to play a character.

"For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  For every tree is known by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." These words are a call to purity of heart.  That is, a true depth of honesty and truth within ourselves.  This kind of honesty is the opposite of hypocrisy:  it is someone who can cherish and nurture the good within the depth of the heart, guarding against that which needs to go ("pruning" the plank in our own eye), so that then this rich treasure may be directly shared with others.  It all begins with what we choose to treasure.

"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?  Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:  He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.  But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.  And the ruin of that house was great."  My study bible says, "Hearing the gospel is not enough, according to Jesus.  We must do what He says.  Jesus did not preach that faith alone is all God requires for salvation.  Spiritual foundations are made secure with both faithful hearing and faithful doing of the words of Christ."  Let us remember that discarding and paying attention to that "plank in our own eye" is also faithful doing.  Thus we are prepared for the work of discipleship, helping, guiding and teaching others - and sharing the good treasure of the heart.

Jesus' emphasis in today's reading is on what is inside of us, how we care for the heart.  He exhorts us all against hypocrisy, but rather making ourselves good trees which give off good fruits, speaking about the abundance of the heart in a truly-nurtured disciple who has followed His words.  In this way we are best prepared to meet our brothers and sisters.  In a modern context, I can imagine this application in a number of ways.  How do we meet others?  What do we cultivate and nurture in our own hearts?  Remember, He is speaking to disciples, to those who will in turn teach others.  In some sense, each of us who choose to be His disciples, as faithful, bear a responsibility to live as "light-bearers" in the world, to glorify God by our own discipline.  Jesus speaks most strongly against hypocrisy, about the good treasure of the heart, and guarding against the failure to perceive the plank in our own eye.  So how can we teach love, if we don't learn what love is from a relationship to God that leads us away from that which is not God-like?  Many people feel they have no sin.  But I believe that "missing the mark" (the literal translation of the Greek word for sin) can come in many forms.  There may be things which keep us from being the person we can fully be which we hold on to.  There may be secret ambitions, a kind of fruitless competitiveness or rivalry, or a desire for authority that seem perfectly "normal" on the one hand, but perhaps get in the way of good and true discipleship.  So we trim the tree, we withdraw the plank that keeps us from seeing straight, and having this spiritual discipline ourselves, we then become prepared to help our brothers and sisters -- without being hypocrites.  How do you learn from God's love for you today?  We remember that to do this job of discipleship is never ours alone and under our own power, but we have and need God's living strength at work with us to help us in all things.  In this way, we will be like the Teacher.

Can the blind lead the blind?

And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.

"For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like. He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great."

- Luke 6:39-49

Yesterday, we continued with Jesus' Sermon on the Plain. After preaching the Beatitudes and Woes, Jesus went on to teach about the practice of mercy. He taught, "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you." To behave with mercy is to be like the Most High, for God "is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful." To act with mercy, as we would have others act to us, in forgiveness, is what is desirable in disciples -- and will be returned to us. "For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher." My study bible says, "Spoken to the disciples, these words are an exhortation to discernment and imitation of Christ in their training for the apostolic ministry." He is interested in disciples who will follow in His footsteps, and take care to understand Him and His words to us, so that they, too, can be good teachers. Discernment is the art of leaving judgment up to God, and seeking God's perspective in all things.

"And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! first remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye." Again, repeating the same theme, Jesus asks, if we are not trained well -- if we do not remove our own flaws -- then how on earth can we hope to enlighten or help others? We look to our own faults first, this is our job as disciples. Again, as in the teachings on mercy, it is a unilateral action. We don't do this with respect to merely responding to others or to an external necessity, or in expectation of receipt of something from someone else; it is a part of our own choice in relation to God, as disciples.

"For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." We also understand and remember Jesus' teachings on hypocrisy, and His frequent condemnation of hypocrites. Here He is teaching the power of looking to ourselves and our own actions first -- of making sure we bear good fruit by doing our best to remove from ourselves that which is "unproductive." What is the good treasure of your heart? What is the abundance of your heart? Jesus returns again and again to such teachings, and it is in this that we learn discipleship. What is in our own hearts? What can we cast away in order to bear better fruit? What do we treasure so that we may be bearers -- as disciples -- of good fruit?

"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like. He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great." Do we merely listen to the words, as disciples, or do we take them to heart? Do we do as He says? Worship alone in outward form ("why do you call me 'Lord, Lord'") is not enough. It must be followed through with commitment to the things He teaches, by choices to follow what He teaches. Otherwise the foundation of our faith is non-existent and we have a shallow illusion of substance upon which to build our lives. What we wish to be returned to us -- through the relationship with God -- must be based on the solid ground of faithful following through. My study bible says, "Spiritual foundations are made secure with both faithful hearing and faithful doing of the words of Christ."

I think it's important to understand that discernment comes with faith as Christ asks us to practice our faith. All things go into God's hands: judgment, forgiveness, the handling of our problems. The God of love and mercy has to be the great mediator of what we choose and how we choose. Therefore it is all up to us: what do we keep in our hearts, what do we give up to God for that discernment in our lives? How do we practice mercy, and give up the things that don't help us to "bear good fruit?" Life can be hard and experience bitter, but we do have a Comforter to help us deal with such experiences in His Way -- the way He asks here. Can we be good disciples? Can we be that which He asks us to be, to bear good fruit? We cut away the dead branches, and keep that which is alive in His word, the good treasure of the heart of mercy. Not an easy job, but we have help -- and with God, all things are possible. This is the true foundation on which we rest.