Who Better?
Can't a blind person lead another blind person?
He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye. "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house." - Luke 6:39-49
I know Jesus was making a point here with his example of a futile effort, but today, a blind person might teach another blind person how to get around in the city, for example.
All right, those of you who know me know that I have a contrarian nature. I look at the words said or printed and ask if there is another way to understand them.
It does get me in trouble at times. But it is something I learned from the Jesuits in college. Question everything.
Surely, no one can see anything with a log in their eye. It is metaphorical. Doesn't Jesus want us to question his words?
He is a teacher, so of course he does.
When the disciples challenge him, it is exactly what he wants them to do, or he wouldn't have taught them parables.
We all know that the best way to motivate someone is to tell them they can't do something. Oh, you'll never be able to run a marathon. Don't even give it a try. Why be disappointed?
It is words like that, which we heard as children, that challenge us to try what we are afraid to try.
I am sure you have seen the videos of the mountain climbing man who lost both legs and learned how to climb with prosthetics.
What motivated him to do that?
Being told you can't, makes you want to try.
Jesus is telling us to build our foundations strong so nothing can cause us to falter. That's what starting with our faith does for us.
So much of what we face in life can deflate us, cause us to want to give up. But if we take up the challenge to lead when we are blind, and build strength when we are weak, and avoid judging others the way we have been judged, we will survive.
More to come...