Eighth
Sunday of Ordinary Time (C) [Lk 6:39-45]
About
Blind Leaders, and Recognition of a Tree
02.03.2025
1. Theme in brief
Qualifications of a true disciple
2.
Focus Statement
To be the true
followers of Christ, we should possess a personal integrity, be positive in our
judgments of others and have purity of intentions.
3. Explanation of
the text
Today’s Gospel contains three separate sayings of Jesus about what it
means to be his true follower. It requires a personal integrity, positive judgments of others and inner motives of our actions. Jesus
says that when his disciples assume leadership roles they cannot lead
and guide others unless they themselves are highly motivated by his teachings and
principles. Otherwise it will be like one blind person guiding another blind
person (6:39-40). If a disciple is misleading anybody, it is a sign
that he/she does not have the qualification of the Teacher, or is
not qualified to guide others (6:40).
Next, Jesus points out at a human tendency
inherent in all people to exaggerate the evil in others and overlook
the evil in themselves. He compares this tendency to notice a “speck” or dust in one’s neighbour’s eyes while there is a “log” in one’s own eye (6:41-42). Before asking one’s neighbour to remove
the speck from his eyes, his disciples should first remove the bigger log from
their own eyes. Then only they would be able to see clearly the smallest speck in
others’ eyes. That is to say, before reforming others, his disciples
are called to reform themselves first. Jesus calls those who try to reform others while they
themselves lack personal integrity “hypocrites” (6:42), because they are blinded by their own sins and
are interested only in exposing another’s weakness.
Thirdly, by citing the example of a
good tree that bears good fruits and a bad tree bearing only bad fruits, Jesus
gives the message that his disciples’ behaviour and deeds should be a reflection of their faith and convictions (6:43-45). Their action should reveal the goodness or malice in their hearts; that
is, their actions should reveal their personal integrity of character.
4.
Application to life
Today, Jesus challenges all those who are called for
exercising Christian leadership roles among us (parents, teachers, leaders, guides,
counsellors, administrators, religious and spiritual heads etc.) to examine
whether we ourselves are motivated and influenced by his principles before guiding and teaching others. If
we ourselves have not experienced his way of life and not convinced of it,
showing his way to others will be like one blind person showing the way to
another. Both will “fall into a pit” (6:39) – the one who shows the way, into
the pit of losing personal integrity and the one who follows into the pit of losing character (due to the misleading
of his guide).
One of the reasons why nowadays children, students,
parishioners, members of religious communities and villagers do not obey or
respect the authority of parents, teachers, pastors, religious heads (leaders)
and village leaders, respectively, is the discrepancy noticed between their
preaching (teaching) and actions. Children, students and all those who are
under their care can notice this easily. Thus, these leaders become blind
guides. To avoid falling into the pit, they need to cultivate the habit of self-criticism or introspection. Whenever parents,
teachers and preachers try to correct children, students and members of their
congregation, they are challenged to live at least something of the values they
teach and preach. Otherwise, many may laugh at them in their minds and dismiss
their ‘pious’ talk or advise.
Jesus uses rather a strong word “hypocrite” (6:42) for those who
are interested only in finding faults in others or correcting them while
ignoring their own faults or refusing to accept them. It is good to examine ourselves and see
whether the strict moral code and conduct, which we demand from others, is
practised by ourselves. Do we have a tendency to be hypercritical of those who
take care of us and guide us, or those who are under our care, while we
ourselves are imperfect in one way or the other? Why do we look at only the
darker and negative side? Don’t we have anything positive to say about them?
In the modern world we are more and more led to distrust somebody’s words,
especially those of our leaders. Those who lack personal integrity are
distrusted and disrespected more and more. Actually, those who lack personal
integrity lose the right to correct and point a finger at the faults of others. Those who lack integrity
of character are known to exhibit duplicity, superficiality and shallowness in their behaviour and
dealings. Jesus teaches us that this type of duplicity is not at all a
characteristic mark of his disciples. Here we have a stern warning from the
Lord against allowing a judgmental and negative attitude towards
other to take root in us. Quite often we self-righteously correct or criticize
others without introspecting into ourselves, or without honest self-evaluation. It is said, when St.
Philip Neri observed the misconduct of an alcoholic, he exclaimed: “There goes
Philip but for the grace of God.” Jesus teaches that the only motive for
correcting others should be love or intending their good, and not exposing their weakness.
Today, Jesus invites those of us who try to reform
others to examine themselves first and see whether there is any “log” deeply
embedded into our hearts and minds. In the past, did we ever criticize the
behaviour of others and strongly condemned them, and then later realised we too had some
of the same weaknesses and defects ourselves? If yes, it was a signal for us to take out
the “log” from our own eyes. Jesus reminds us that we need to correct our own
faults before criticizing and trying to correct others. He asks us to be deeply
aware of our own limitations and frailties before guiding and correcting others. Those of us who preach or teach
against stealing, should ask: do I steal? Those who preach and teach about
honesty should ask: am I honest in my words and deeds? Those who speak against
corruption, should ask: do I give or take bribes? Those who us who preach and
teach about disobedience of children and students should ask: do I obey God’s
and civil laws? ...........
Just as we come to know whether any tree is good or
bad from its fruits, so also we come to know from a disciple’s behaviour and
actions whether a his/her intentions are good or evil. Hence, one of
the smallest parables of a good and a bad tree invites us to examine our inner motives and intentions of the
heart. Our internal dispositions are revealed in our external behaviour actions. When
we hear a person speaking all types of filthy, vulgar, hateful and violent
language, we naturally conclude that there must be something wrong with the
person inside. Sirach says that “a person’s speech discloses the cultivation of
his mind” (Sir 27:6). If we are motivated by genuine love, our thoughts, speech
and lives show it; show good fruits of selfless love. If we are motivated by
hatred, jealousy, greed, lust and other purely selfish desires, the fruits will
be fights, divisions, disharmony, abuse of power and position for our own
selfish ends. Hence, today’s gospel challenges us to regularly purify our innermost
intentions.
5.
Response to God's Word
Do we ourselves practice first what we believe and
preach or teach? What is that “log” in my own eyes that I am least bothered to
take out before guiding and correcting others? Do I notice that log or just
refuse to notice? What is my actual motive behind any criticism and correction
of others? Is it motivated by pure love, or a hidden desire to expose their
weaknesses and teach them a lesson?
6.
A prayer
Lord
Jesus, I want to be your true follower. Lead and guide me along the path of personal integrity, so
that my intentions may be pure and judgements be positive. Amen.
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