In the collect moments ago, we prayed, “Grant us, O Lord, we pray that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule.” For many people in harm’s way, that is their pressing need as we witness the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces this past week, not knowing what lies ahead for Europe or our country. But if peace is ever to be real in our world, we need to heed the wisdom that our Lord shares with us. Today’s readings offer us plenty to ponder.
Luke tells us, “Jesus told his disciples a parable.” Actually he delivered four pithy statements on how to behave. His lesson reads like a disconnected series of sayings, an example of the Jewish method of preaching known as charaz, which means stringing beads. To maintain the interest of his listeners, a rabbi would move quickly from one topic to another. At a glance they may appear to be disconnected but in fact, they are not. Each snippet here challenges how we should relate to others.
Jesus is pointing out the importance of seeing what is right. We cannot guide those unable to see what is right if our own vision is unclear. If we are not using Christian values to guide us, influence our decisions, and shape our lives, how can we expect others to do so? If we do not see the world with the eyes of Christ, we risk falling into the pit that Jesus is speaking of here.
If we accept those values of our secular world that are contrary to the teachings of Christ and our Church, we are allowing the blind to lead us when Jesus is expecting us to use our vision of the Good News to lead the blind. No Christian can view the world only through the eyes of non-believers and remain centered on Christ. By virtue of our baptism, we are followers of Christ but in practice are we consciously following him?
The best way to remember who we are is to keep our eyes focused on the one in whose image we are made, not some politician or contemporary star who will someday be a distant memory but on Jesus Christ who seeks to usher us into eternal life in his kingdom, where death will lose its sting. Watching what he sees, listening when he speaks, studying how he acts enables us to stay on the right path toward eternal life and guide others in that direction as well.
Practically speaking, this means we should speak out against evil and injustice even if that means being scorned by our friends, just as Jesus was. We must speak out against war, prejudice, exploitation, and the destruction of our planet. If we are to survive, we cannot let those blind to the teachings of Jesus lead us.
We find ourselves being suckered by others into being unjust when we condone cruel and inhumane acts, such as abortion, euthanasia or capital punishment or being biased when we discriminate against certain peoples, such as migrants seeking a safe haven, or tolerate sweat shops in distant lands so we can buy cheap clothes. Or having little regard for our planet by being careless with its resources.
It is so easy to be misled, which is why in his next line, Jesus cautions us against those who gossip, fueled by the need to be critical. “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” According to the Talmud, “The gossiping tongue kills three, the victim of the gossip, the gossiper, and the one who listens to the gossiper.”
Jesus was quite serious when he said, “You hypocrite!” First deal with your own faults! “Remove the wooden beam from your eye first then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.” When we are irritated by what others are doing, we should step back and ponder what we might be doing that is irritating to them.
His concluding bit of wisdom is also based on lived experience. “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its fruit.” We wouldn’t expect to find figs on thorny bushes or gather grapes from brambles. The final point Jesus is making is that they will know we are Christians by our love. Good people do not deliberately do evil deeds.
Actions speak louder than words. Saying that we believe in Jesus Christ but then choosing to ignore his pearls of wisdom isn’t going to save us in the end. Jesus used figurative language of splinters and beams, figs and grapes, thorn bushes and brambles to tell us that true disciples must practice what they preach; they must give evidence that they are striving to follow his example. It is not enough for us to believe that God loves us or that Jesus died on the cross to save us. Jesus is asking us, “Does your behavior reflect God’s love for you and your love for God?”
Soon we begin our Lenten journey. Ashes will be placed on our foreheads, with the warning, “Repent and believe in the gospel.” Do this and no one will have any reason to shout, “You hypocrite!” We imitate Christ when we follow his example and not that of the irreligious world in which we live. Endeavor to turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel. Do this and we will never forget that we are made in the image of God and sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, empowered to resist evil and do our part to bring peace to our wounded world. Lent is a time to look into ourselves and ponder our efforts and see if indeed our actions and words demonstrate whom we claim to be.