Can a blind man lead a blind man?” (Luke 6:39). A disciple of Jesus cannot afford to be blind. He must have the wisdom to lead wisely; otherwise, he risks causing damage to the people who are entrusted to him. Pastors, public authorities, legislators, teachers, and parents — those who have educational responsibility or govern must be neither presumptuous nor hypocritical. Today’s Gospel reads: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (v.41).
The Lord’s dramatic warning is not towards the Pharisees nor the Jews but the disciples themselves. In the first centuries, the Church called its baptised members’ enlightened ones’ because the light of Christ had opened their eyes. Hence, people expected Christians to know how to choose the correct values in life.
But there is little assurance that Christians make rich choices always. Therefore, Jesus warns his disciples of the danger of losing the light of the Gospel and becoming blinded by false reasoning dictated by the world’s logic. They are blind because they had an image of god that they had invented for themselves; a god who was exactly like them; a judge, an executioner, and they refused to have their eyes opened. The problem arises when the blind is convinced that he can see and guides others.
The disciples must never forget that they can never become guides although they have been enlightened. Their only guide is Christ and his Gospel. The teacher is one; the guide is Christ, and he must go ahead, and we must follow in his footsteps.
“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 eye?” There is an insistence on the term ‘brother’ – Jesus used it four times in this passage. Jesus, therefore, does not address the outsiders, the pagans; but addresses the members of the Christian communities.
Our eyes instinctively rest on what is not good, on a defect because it bothers us. But Luke teaches his community a fundamental principle for community living: “Before you become interested in your brother’s problem, first, you must check if you see well; first, remove the beam in your eye.”
In Matthew Chapter 23, we are told that the Jews paid the tithe of mint and cumin, but then they neglected righteousness and mercy. Here is the beam that was before their eyes. In today’s Church, we have people ignoring the plight of the migrants and elderly but fighting for the cause of the unborn and pro-life issues; or neglect their own elderly parents at home but complain about the Church’s failure to care for the poor — the beam and the splinter! Jesus does not say that we should not help our brother cleanse his eye, but he who looks at the speck is a hypocrite.
For your Reflection
The Christians are recognised not only by their works but by how they speak; from their lips come only words of love because their heart is full of mercy, like that of the Father in heaven.
Father Josekutty
Mathew CMF
