Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Luke 6:39–45

Sunday marks the last Sunday of Ordinary Time for a while, for on Wednesday, we enter into the glorious season of Lent. At Walking with Purpose, we're gearing up to spend Lent—and part of Easter—reflecting on the essential call to discipleship. Indeed, discipleship is not just a calling for a select few but a command given to us by Christ Himself: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). This is the mission we must embrace on our journey to heaven. 

When we look at the lives of the saints, we see how each of them, in their own way, through their God-given gifts and talents, answered this call. They were not just disciples of Christ who allowed Him to teach and mold them, but they were disciple-makers—people who went to the peripheries of their world to bring the light and joy of the gospel to others. 

But before we rush to the task of discipling others, there is something crucial we must do first: we must look interiorly, examine our hearts, and pursue personal righteousness. As Father Jacques Philippe writes in his book Interior Freedom: "At times of struggle we need also to recall the conversion we should be concerned about is not our neighbor’s but our own. Only if we take our own conversion seriously do we stand any chance of seeing our neighbor converted too."[1]

Though Sunday's gospel implements several metaphors, images, and parables, it is ultimately about one overarching theme: pursuing personal righteousness and holiness is imperative and foundational to being a disciple. Jesus challenges us to examine our hearts first, to extract the wooden beam—our sin—from our eyes before looking to remove the splinter from our neighbor's eyes, lest we become like a blind person leading the blind (Luke 6:41, 6:39). It is important to note that the disposition Jesus is critiquing is different from fraternal correction (Luke 17:3). Rather, He is confronting a mindset of scrupulous and uncharitable judgment of another (after all, just think of how closely one must scrutinize another to notice a tiny splinter).

Furthermore, He reminds His listeners that they will be known by the fruit they bear. "A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good” (Luke 6:45). But how do we cultivate this goodness? By following Jesus and remaining a disciple of His, rather than ever assuming a position of superiority over the Teacher Himself (Luke 6:40). By rooting ourselves in His Word so that our faith is strengthened and our hearts are laid bare before Him (Hebrews 4:12). By receiving the graces of the sacrament of Reconciliation frequently so that we remove the logs from our eyes and allow His grace to transform us. By attending Mass and partaking in the Eucharist. Through daily examinations and by living of life of humility. 

In Lesson 4 of Passionate Discipleship, "Aim at Righteousness," Mallory Smyth writes the following: 

If we focus solely on that second goal—seeing how we can pass the faith on—but ignore the first [of growing to be more like Christ], we’re going to find ourselves on a collision course that does not end well. This is because the very generation that we long to see set on fire with love for God has an acute sixth sense that picks up on any hypocrisy or judgment. This means that our words and actions really, really matter. 

When we stand before God at the end of our lives, we won’t be judged on what others thought about us, the next generation included, but God will talk to us about how we spoke and acted. We don’t want to feel ashamed during that conversation. What we want is for Him to look at us and say, “Well done. I approve. You have no need to be ashamed. You correctly handled the word of truth.”[2]

Yes, to be a disciple maker, we must first pursue the Teacher and aim for our own righteousness. Only then can we go out into the world.

So, my friend, may I invite you to join us on a twofold mission this Lent: to be discipled by Christ, allowing His Word to change our hearts, and to learn how to pass the torch of faith on to the next generation with joy and authenticity? Will you take up the challenge? 

Food for thought or journaling ... 

What wooden beam in my own life might be obstructing my vision, preventing me from loving Jesus fully and discipling others well? 

Jesus, as I prepare to enter the desert with You this Lent, I lay down my heart before You. Search my deepest thoughts, desires, and actions, and reveal to me the ways in which I live hypocritically and how my life does not align with Yours. Show me the areas I need to convert so that over these 40 days, I may be made more fully into Your image. Jesus, I want to be Your disciple, to follow You more closely, to bring the life-saving joy of the gospel to others. Help me to answer the call. Amen. 

There are three ways for you to join us this Lent!

🎙️ Tune into the Hope for Right Now podcast. Join Lisa and Laura every Monday as they open Passionate Discipleship with a fresh lens beginning March 10.
📖 Journey through Passionate Discipleship. Go deeper with this transformative study and fully immerse yourself in 2 Timothy verse by verse. Learn how to follow in the footsteps of the first disciples, ensuring that the gospel continues to reach every nation and generation.
💻 Join a vitual group. Looking for community? Register for our virtual Bible study groups and explore Passionate Discipleship alongside faith-filled women—all from the comfort of home. Groups begin the week of March 10. 

[1] Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom (New York: Scepter Publishers, Inc., 2007), 75.
[2] Lisa Brenninkmeyer and Mallory Smyth, Passionate Discipleship (USA: Walking with Purpose, Inc., 2023), 51.