Year 35 No.
47 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) — Green
Of Splinters
and
Wooden Beams
by Fr. Anthony B. Capirayan, SSP
H aving worked in St Pauls’
youth magazine The
Youngster for some years now,
my eyes are conditioned to
find mistakes in other people’s
writings. Once the write-ups
are submitted, I shift into some
sort of a savage mode and begin
rummaging through the piece
looking for literary blunders—
sentence fragments, dangling
modifiers, limping metaphors,
and misspelled words, among
other things. I have a flair for
recognizing flaws, so to speak.
I admit, thvough, that
sometimes I employ the
same skill in dealing with
other people: recognizing
the “splinters” in their lives,
spotting their weaknesses,
identifying their wounds,
discerning their brokenness.
And I am getting better at it.
Or so I thought.
More than a year ago I found
myself on the other end of this
gospel metaphor: I was so
occupied with removing the
“wooden beam” in my own
eye that I missed the “splinter”
in my brother’s eye. I was
too absorbed in own inner
struggles that I barely noticed
my friends losing their silent
battles. I was so caught up
with my own deadlines that
I became oblivious to others
sitting on a time bomb.
One of my seminary
batchmates and closest friends
went inconsolable. Barely ten
months into his priesthood, he
decided to take his own life
to free himself from the sting
of splinters and the weight of
wooden beams in his ministry.
He was indubitably one of
the more imaginative and
creative members in our batch.
Ironically though, we did not
know that he had a “flair” for
self-destruction.
I was riddled with painful
regrets and self-loathing. How
could I have missed those signs?
If only I had recognized those
“splinters” that were blinding
him early on, I could have
done something about them.
I could have reached out to him
and together we could have
talked about—if not totally
removed—those “specks,” the
miseries blinding his reason,
the pains crippling him within,
the people dashing his hopes.
February 27, 2022
But I had been blind to those
subtle signs of depression—his
loss of interest in music, his
little excuses when we wanted
to see him, and his cryptic post
on Facebook about meeting
our other batchmates in the
afterlife. Were my eyes not
trained to see those “blunders”?
Jesus opens today’s Gospel
pericope with a parable,
saying, “Can a blind person
guide a blind person? Will
not both fall into a pit?” (Lk
6:39). Whether we admit it
or not, we are all blind in
many ways and in varying
levels. Our sins, obstinacy,
and lack of reflection, among
other things, affect our vision,
making us stumble into the
ditch. Needless to say, we need
the light of the Lord and one
another’s vision as we walk
together home.
Remember when we used
to ask another person to blow
into our eyes to remove a mote?
We, therefore, ask the Lord
to blow into our eyes that we
may see clearly, understand
the plight of others, and keep
one another away from the pit.
 THE INTRODUCTORY RITES
Entrance Antiphon
(Cf. Ps 18[17]:19–20)
(Recited when there is no opening song.)
The Lord became my protector.
He brought me out to a place
of freedom; he saved me
because he delighted in me.
Greeting
(The sign of the cross is made here.)
P—The Lord be with you
All—And with your spirit.
Introduction
(These [or similar words] may be used
to address the assembly.)
P—In today’s Gospel, Jesus
reminds his disciples about
the right conduct toward
recognizing the faults of
others. Jesus does not prohibit
correcting those who err or are
in a sinful state. The governing
thought of Jesus is that passing
judgment should be done
in the spirit of prayer, great
humility, compassion, and love.
Hypocrites are concerned only
with the splinter of one’s eye
and do not recognize their own
self-blinding plank.
Do we humbly recognize
our sins and errors? Do we
pass judgment with arrogance
and pride?
Penitential Act
P—Brethren (brothers and
sisters), let us acknowledge our
sins, and so prepare ourselves to
celebrate the sacred mysteries.
(Pause)
All—I confess to almighty
God and to you, my brothers
and sisters, that I have greatly
sinned, in my thoughts and in
my words, in what I have done
and in what I have failed to
do, (strike your breast) through
my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary
ever-Virgin, all the Angels and
Saints, and you, my brothers
and sisters, to pray for me to
the Lord our God.
P—May almighty God have
mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
All—Amen.
P—Lord, have mercy.
All—Lord, have mercy.
P—Christ, have mercy.
All—Christ, have mercy.
P—Lord, have mercy.
All—Lord, have mercy.
Gloria
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people
of good will. We praise you, we
bless you, we adore you, we
glorify you, we give you thanks
for your great glory, Lord God,
heavenly King, O God, almighty
Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only
Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb
of God, Son of the Father, you
take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us; you take away
the sins of the world, receive
our prayer; you are seated at
the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us. For you alone
are the Holy One, you alone
are the Lord, you alone are the
Most High, Jesus Christ, with
the Holy Spirit, in the glory of
God the Father. Amen.
Collect
P—Let us pray. (Pause)
Grant us, O Lord, we pray,
that the course of our world may
be directed by your peaceful
rule and that your Church
may rejoice, untroubled in
her devotion.
Through our Lord Jesus
Christ, your Son, who lives and
reigns with you in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, God, for ever
and ever.
All—Amen.
Liturgy of the word
First Reading (Sir 27:4–7) (Sit)
The need for being prudent in words
and actions is among the various
counsels assembled by Sirach.
A reading from the Book of
Sirach
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 word of the Lord.
All—Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm (Ps 92)
R—Lord, it is good to give
thanks to you.
Regine C. Gozun
 
Dmaj
   

Lord, it is

G Amaj D
    
2
  
good to give thanks to you.
1. It is good to give thanks to
the Lord,/ to sing praise to your
name, Most High,/to proclaim
your kindness at dawn/ and
your faithfulness throughout
the night. (R)
2. The just one shall flourish like
the palm tree,/ like a cedar of
Lebanon shall he grow./ They
that are planted in the house
of the Lord/ shall flourish in the
courts of our God. (R)
3. They shall bear fruit even in
old age;/ vigorous and sturdy
shall they be,/ declaring how just
is the Lord, my Rock,/ in whom
there is no wrong. (R)
Second Reading (1 Cor 15:54–58)
After the apostle Paul explains
to the community of Corinth the
reality of resurrection, he concludes
it with a triumphant song. Death
no longer has effect to those who
believe in the resurrection of Christ.
A reading from the first Letter
of Saint Paul to the Corinthians
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.
—The word of the Lord.
All—Thanks be to God.
Alleluia (Phil 2:15d, 16a) (Stand)
All—Alleluia, alleluia. Shine
like lights in the world as you
hold on to the word of life.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel (Lk 6:39–45)
P—A reading from the holy
Gospel according to Luke
All—Glory to you, O Lord.
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 eye? 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? You hypocrite!
Remove the wooden beam from
your own 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.”
—The Gospel of the Lord.
All—Praise to you, Lord Jesus
Christ.
Homily (Sit)
Profession of Faith (Stand)
All—I believe in one God,
the Father almighty, maker of
heaven and earth, of all things
visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus
Christ, the Only Begotten Son
of God, born of the Father
before all ages. God from God,
Light from Light, true God from
true God, begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were
made. For us men and for our
salvation he came down from
heaven, (at the words that follow,
up to and including and became
man, all bow) and by the Holy
Spirit was incarnate of the
Virgin Mary and became man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate, he
suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third
day in accordance with the
Scriptures. He ascended into
heaven and is seated at the
right hand of the Father. He will
come again in glory to judge
the living and the dead and
his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life, who
proceeds from the Father and
the Son, who with the Father
and the Son is adored and
glorified, who has spoken
through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy,
catholic, and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the
forgiveness of sins and I look
forward to the resurrection
of the dead and the life of the
world to come. Amen.
Prayer of the Faithful
P—Let us pray to our heavenly
Father that we may see his Son
Jesus among sinners, and look
upon them with mercy and
compassion. With humility and
trust, we pray:
R—Lord, listen to our prayer.
C—May Pope Francis, bishops,
priests, deacons, and all Church
leaders see their ministry not
as superior over anyone but
as humble service for God's
people. We pray: (R)
C—May those who govern our
country become conscious of
their role as stewards of God’s
people who encourage and
recognize the potentials and
talents of their constituents.
We pray: (R)
C—May we live patiently
by b e a r i n g e a ch o t h e r ’s
imperfections, and not keeping
a list of faults and failures of
others. We pray: (R)
C — M ay w e r e c e i v e t h e
Sacrament of Reconciliation
often so that we can build
a community that cultivates
the healing power of God’s
compassion. We pray: (R)
C—May medical and health
care professionals and social
workers ease the pain and
burden of the sick, the
handicapped, the elderly, the
depressed, and those who are
undergoing different forms of
crises in life. We pray: (R)
C—For our beloved dead: that
the through the saving mercy
of God, they may reach eternal
life. We pray: (R)
C—Let us pray for the urgent
concerns of our community
and our personal intentions
(pause), we pray: (R)
P—Listen to the prayers of your
children, Lord. Grant us the
capacity to forgive from our
hearts so that we may be one
with you who live and reign
for ever and ever.
All—Amen.
Liturgy of
the eucharist
Presentation of the Gifts
(Stand)
P—Pray, brethren…
All—May the Lord accept the
sacrifice at your hands for the
praise and glory of his name,
for our good and the good of
all his holy Church.
Prayer over the Offerings
P—O God, who provide gifts
to be offered to your name
and count our oblations as
signs of our desire to serve you
with devotion, we ask of your
mercy that what you grant as
the source of merit may also
help us to attain merit’s reward
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.

Preface VIII
(Sundays in Ordinary Time)

P—The Lord be with you.

All—And with your spirit.
P—Lift up your hearts.
All—We lift them up to the Lord.
P—Let us give thanks to the
Lord our God.
All—It is right and just.
P—It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give
you thanks, Lord, holy Father,
almighty and eternal God.
For, when your children were
scatted afar by sin, through
the Blood of your Son and the
power of the Spirit, you gathered
them again to yourself, that a
people, formed as one by the
unity of the Trinity, made the
body of Christ and the temple
of the Holy Spirit, might, to
the praise of your manifold
wisdom, be manifest as the
Church.
And so, in company with
the choirs of Angels, we praise
you, and with joy we proclaim:
All—Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God
of hosts. Heaven and earth are
full of your glory. Hosanna in
the highest. Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. (Kneel)
Acclamation (Stand)
All—When we eat this Bread
and drink this Cup, we proclaim
your Death, O Lord, until you
come again.
THE COMMUNION RITE
The Lord’s Prayer
All—Our Father…
P—Deliver us, Lord…
All—For the kingdom, the
power and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Invitation to Peace
Invitation to Communion
(Kneel)
P—Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away
the sins of the world. Blessed
are those called to the supper
of the Lamb.
All—Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under
my roof, but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.
Communion Antiphon
(Mt 28:20)
Behold, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age,
says the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
(Stand)
P—Let us pray. (Pause)
Nourished by your saving
gifts, we beseech your mercy,
L o r d , t h a t by t h i s s a m e
Sacrament with which you
feed us in the present age,
you may make us partakers
of life eternal.
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.
THE CONCLUDING RITES
P—The Lord be with you.
All—And with your spirit.
Solemn Blessing
P—Bow down for the blessing.
(Pause)
May almighty God always
keep every adversity far from
you and in his kindness pour out
upon you the gifts of his blessing.
All—Amen.
P—May God keep your hearts
attentive to his words, that they
may be filled with everlasting
gladness.
All—Amen.
P—And so, may you always
understand what is good
and right, and be found ever
hastening along in the path of
God’s commands, made coheirs
with the citizens of heaven.
All—Amen.
P—And may the blessing of
almighty God, the Father, and
the Son, (+) and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain
with you for ever.
All—Amen.
Dismissal
P—The Mass has been offered.
Go in peace.
All — Thanks be to God.
All for the
Gospel