Daily Gospel Reflection
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February 27, 2022
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.”
As the mother of four children and a school principal responsible for the Catholic education of over 400 students, I found several verses in today’s gospel that caused me anxiety. The verses about good fruit, in particular, had me worried.
That’s because I sometimes fall into a shallow thinking pattern. If the children I raise and guide are the fruit of my labors, and they do not turn out to be intelligent, respectful, kind, or holy, then I am clearly like the brambles. I have failed to prove myself as worthy or successful. It would be far easier for my ego and my inflated sense of pride if other people—namely my children, my students, and even the teachers in our building—just did all the right things that would make me look good.
But how fitting that Jesus’ parable about hypocrisy leads into these verses and illuminates the foolishness of such anxieties. If we fixate on the worthiness of others and the splinters in their eyes rather than on our own faithfulness and conversion, we are hypocrites who fall into a lifeless trap.
The more we look to judge or criticize others, especially as a means of inflating ourselves, the more we blind ourselves spiritually. To best fulfill my vocations as mother and educator, I must worry less about how others behave according to my standards and focus more on my prayer life, my own need for mercy, and my relationship with Christ.
Today’s gospel is a beautiful invitation to be honest with ourselves and our shortcomings and trust that the spiritual clarity that comes from such honesty will make us more fully like Christ, our ultimate teacher.
Prayer
Good and gracious Father, you invite us to contemplate the mystery of our lives. In doing so, we see how you nurture us, challenge us, and help us grow. We are trees capable of producing both good and rotten fruit. In your wisdom, shape us so that we might be a source of love for others. Stretch and embolden us so that others might find rest in our shade. Guide us so that our thoughts, words, and deeds might provide nourishment to others. And in the moments when our spirit fails, give us strength to rise again, so that we may be true disciplines of Christ, our teacher in all things, in whose name we pray.
Amen.
Saint of the Day
Without St. Leander’s faithfulness, Spain would not have such a rich Catholic history. For his work opposing heresy, the Church in Spain recognizes him as a doctor of the faith.
St. Leander came from a royal family in Cartagena, Spain, and his three siblings are all honored as saints (including his brother, St. Isidore of Seville). He grew up in the 6th century and was known for his eloquence and charismatic personality, even as a youth. At an early age, he entered the monastery for several years of intense study and prayer.
Leander became known for his holiness, and was old enough when the bishop of Seville died that he was unanimously chosen to replace him. His task was clear—the Arian heresy was widespread at the time (the belief that Jesus was not fully human), and Leander set out to preach the truth. His prayer and eloquent arguments won many over to orthodoxy.
He became friends with St. Gregory the Great before that man became pope, and the two exchanged letters and supported one another.
Political divisions in Spain aligned with doctrinal differences, and Leander was exiled for opposing Arianism. He continued his fight, however, writing three books while he was away.
Leander was eventually restored, and had the opportunity to instruct successors to the throne, which helped to convert the whole nation.
He had a great appreciation for the importance of prayer in the Christian life. Several councils were held under his leadership, and he helped reform the liturgy in Spain before his death in 596.
St. Leander of Seville, you restored true faith to Spain—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Leander of Seville is in the public domain. Last accessed December 5, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
