Welcome to my blog. Peace be with you.
Let us take time to listen to the Lord Jesus
speaking through his Gospel. May his creative Word transform our lives.
Friday 11 September 2020
Luke 6:39-42
Can the blind lead
the blind?
Jesus told a
parable to the disciples: ‘Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will
fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained
disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in
your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to
your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when
you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own
eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that
is in your brother’s eye.’
Prayerful reflection
Can one blind person lead another?
No, obviously not. One must see. ‘He who follows me will not walk in the dark,
but will have the light of life.’ We must follow Jesus. He is the Way, the
Truth, and the Life. How can we follow him, if we can’t see him or hear him? In
all matters that concern everyone, Jesus guides us through his Church. He is
present in his Church and he is head of his Church. Since the Church he has
founded is the means of salvation, he is always present and leading it on the
Way of Truth and Life. We must listen to his Church and not our own judgement.
Regarding matters concerning my own life, I must listen to him speaking to me
in prayer. He often speaks to us, also, through circumstances, events, and the
words of others.
Since I can easily deceive myself, I
must test the spirits to see if they come from God. The best way to test the
spirits is to consult an intelligent and holy person.
Jesus is telling us to model our
lives on his. This is not that we are living in the time and culture of Jesus.
We do not imitate his dress, hair-style, his physical life-style. We are to
‘have the mind of Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 2:5). We are to study and imitate
him in his humility, his obedience, love, and mercy.
Jesus does not condemn correction of
others. If I see my brother do something or say something which is contrary to
the Gospel and the infallible teaching of the Church, I must surely correct him
in love.
Jesus is talking about the critical
spirit which we all have. We love to talk about others and criticise their sins
and failings (in their absence). Often, we forget that we have the same
failings and at times far worse ones than the ones we criticise in others. We
should listen to what others say about us. It may open our eyes to our own
glaring faults. Have we the courage?
If we cannot preach what we practice,
we should remain silent about others. Even if we can, we should only give
constructive criticism. In love, we are
to help people grow.
Prayer
Almighty Father,
let your
light so penetrate our minds
that, walking
in your commandments,
we may always
follow you, our leader and guide.
Through our
Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and
reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for
ever and ever.
Amen.
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