Tuesday after Quinquagesima
Scripture: St. Luke 6:39-49 (NKJV)
39 And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. 41 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? 42 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.
43 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 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. 45 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.
46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 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. 49 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.”
Devotion
Our focus and foundation must be on the sound teaching of God’s Word. We cannot hope to help others or stand grounded ourselves if we lack the truth of all that Christ has commanded.
False teaching is the plank that blinds people and makes them dangerous leaders. They may be eager to help and love others, but if their vision is blocked by errors they put themselves and those who follow them at serious risk.
Error is also the poison that causes bad fruit in the lives of men. Satan’s lies and man’s disobedience in the beginning caused that poison to be present in all our lives. But it becomes worse when people resist the Holy Spirit and let the corruption continue to stay and build.
Error is also a weak foundation for a house or institution. The whole structure can collapse because falsehood is unstable. And those that dwell in an institution that has sin compromising its foundation are in danger as well.
The truth in Jesus Christ is the only thing that helps us and sustains us. As the Holy Spirit enlightens us in the Word we are then able to lead others to the wisdom of God’s righteousness and the mercy of His forgiveness for our sins. Also, the constant presence of these blessings through life in the faithful Church with the Word and Sacraments strengthen and preserve us in our sure foundation.
We pray: Lord God, open our eyes with Your truth, and keep us steadfast in our Savior, Jesus Christ crucified. Amen.
