There is a long pause and then, the priest gives the man absolution, and as part of his penance asks him to pick up a copy of an Examination of Conscience found outside the Confessional and asks the man to think and pray about what he learns from this experience.
Now perhaps this man is some kind of natural saint who has intuitively learned to follow his better nature. I don’t know about you, but for me this is extremely unlikely. It is much more likely that his conscience has simply fallen asleep. He may actually be waking up at this point and he needs a double espresso from the Holy Spirit!
I wonder have you ever gone to Confession and struggled to think of what sins you are going to confess. It is very likely that this is not because you are sinless, but because you have allowed yourself to live on the surface and in the moment and have not entered into yourself very deeply.
At first glance, Jesus words in our gospel appears to be a kind of word salad filled with various metaphors. When we read a passage like this, we often find ourselves triggered by a particular verse that strikes us. Jesus asks, “Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Clearly, an effective leader cannot have their eyes closed, or be unable to see. The next verse is actually the key verse to this passage; Jesus refers to the notion of discipleship.
We are so used to hearing this word ‘disciple,’ that many of us have forgotten what it means. Jesus says, “No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.”
Unlike our modern world, discipleship is not the same as ‘education.’ Discipleship was an apprenticeship in the life and teachings of the master. Discipleship primarily focused the imitation of the master to the point of actually becoming the other person in every little way.
Many years ago, I worked as an assistant in a large commercial cafeteria. When I was assisting the baker, I would literally add 20 pounds of flour and gallons of milk, but after we began mixing the dough, the baker would put his hand in the dough and determine whether we need to adjust the recipe with more liquid or more flour. This is not something you learn from a book. As Jesus notes, “when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.” Discipleship was most of all an apprenticeship in the life of the master.
Jesus moves on to a new metaphor to explain how this might work. If we tried to picture this in our mind, this is would literally be a cartoon. Jesus asks, “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?”
This is a highly exaggerated metaphor. Jesus contrasts a speck, a word meaning a small flake of wood with a wooden beam, or the main load bearing beam of a building. Only in a kind of cartoon image could we imagine someone with this kind of wooden beam stilling out of his or her eye!
This person has failed to become a disciple or apprentice to the life of mercy and love that Jesus has been modelling.
Jesus says, “You hypocrite!” We experience shocked offence when we see obvious hypocrisy. “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
Jesus asks us to begin with a humble self-examination of our hearts. Next, we must remove our own faults, only then can we see clearly to help someone else.
Our modern world often wants to make our faith something personal and private. Many people believe that faith is completely personal, and something that no one else should interfere with. In the name of being inclusive we should never judge another person. Each one of us has the right to follow our own feelings in matters of faith. Interfering with these feelings in another person’s life is judging that person.
Is this Jesus point in this passage?
While Jesus did warn about not judging others earlier (Luke 6:37), he does not use this word here. Instead, Jesus says that leaders should first take care of you own problems, then care for others.
St Paul makes a similar point in Galatians,
Only after initial conversion and the full apprenticeship of discipleship can I become like Jesus (v. 40b) and become a master or leader for others and help correct their little faults. (“splinter,” v. 42b)
How do we know this process has occurred?
In the next metaphor, Jesus talks about trees and fruit. He notes, “Every tree is known by its own fruit.” We cannot merely depend on our education, or the fact that we have riding along on the Catholic bus through the various sacraments. The final steps in the journey must involve a profound cooperation on our part. Like the earliest disciples, we must drop our nets and follow Jesus as his disciples. When we do this, our life will change and bear fruit. If we do not see fruit, there is a problem.
By literally walking with Jesus and experiencing his life and teachings, we awaken our conscience with the help of the Holy Spirit. Our heart needs to be fully awake in him.
This is a fundamental choice on our part. We need to say “yes” to Jesus. This is an act of our will. We need to surrender our life to him, and make him the center of our life. We may need to repeat this act many times in order to be continuously converted to his will.
Jesus final metaphor is a kind of litmus test, or scorecard. Are we really a fully initiated disciple of Jesus? Jesus observes that, “from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.” The most profound demonstration of our holiness, and our conformity to the discipleship of Jesus, is how we control our tongue. We might be attempted to jump ahead and focus here, but unless we have taken the previous steps, we will likely fail.
Our journey begins not by following the rules, but by literally following the person of Jesus!
We must be changed by him from the inside out!
EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C
Now perhaps this man is some kind of natural saint who has intuitively learned to follow his better nature. I don’t know about you, but for me this is extremely unlikely. It is much more likely that his conscience has simply fallen asleep. He may actually be waking up at this point and he needs a double espresso from the Holy Spirit!
I wonder have you ever gone to Confession and struggled to think of what sins you are going to confess. It is very likely that this is not because you are sinless, but because you have allowed yourself to live on the surface and in the moment and have not entered into yourself very deeply.
At first glance, Jesus words in our gospel appears to be a kind of word salad filled with various metaphors. When we read a passage like this, we often find ourselves triggered by a particular verse that strikes us. Jesus asks, “Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Clearly, an effective leader cannot have their eyes closed, or be unable to see. The next verse is actually the key verse to this passage; Jesus refers to the notion of discipleship.
We are so used to hearing this word ‘disciple,’ that many of us have forgotten what it means. Jesus says, “No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.”
Unlike our modern world, discipleship is not the same as ‘education.’ Discipleship was an apprenticeship in the life and teachings of the master. Discipleship primarily focused the imitation of the master to the point of actually becoming the other person in every little way.
Many years ago, I worked as an assistant in a large commercial cafeteria. When I was assisting the baker, I would literally add 20 pounds of flour and gallons of milk, but after we began mixing the dough, the baker would put his hand in the dough and determine whether we need to adjust the recipe with more liquid or more flour. This is not something you learn from a book. As Jesus notes, “when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.” Discipleship was most of all an apprenticeship in the life of the master.
Jesus moves on to a new metaphor to explain how this might work. If we tried to picture this in our mind, this is would literally be a cartoon. Jesus asks, “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?”
This is a highly exaggerated metaphor. Jesus contrasts a speck, a word meaning a small flake of wood with a wooden beam, or the main load bearing beam of a building. Only in a kind of cartoon image could we imagine someone with this kind of wooden beam stilling out of his or her eye!
This person has failed to become a disciple or apprentice to the life of mercy and love that Jesus has been modelling.
Jesus says, “You hypocrite!” We experience shocked offence when we see obvious hypocrisy. “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
Jesus asks us to begin with a humble self-examination of our hearts. Next, we must remove our own faults, only then can we see clearly to help someone else.
Our modern world often wants to make our faith something personal and private. Many people believe that faith is completely personal, and something that no one else should interfere with. In the name of being inclusive we should never judge another person. Each one of us has the right to follow our own feelings in matters of faith. Interfering with these feelings in another person’s life is judging that person.
Is this Jesus point in this passage?
While Jesus did warn about not judging others earlier (Luke 6:37), he does not use this word here. Instead, Jesus says that leaders should first take care of you own problems, then care for others.
St Paul makes a similar point in Galatians,
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1–2)Keeping in mind the five previous chapters of Luke’s Gospel and the notion of discipleship, we can outline a five step process in Jesus’ teachings
- Jesus calls us to be his disciple, and to imitate his life and teachings. Jesus ministry centers on modelling mercy and love to others.
- We must begin in humility with an openness to the words and life of Jesus,
- We must first examine our own hearts: We must pray to have an awareness of our own serious mistakes (“the beam in my eye” not “splinters”);
- We must surrender to Jesus and be converted with the readiness to follow him, and thus to become a different person (removal of the “log”);
- Only then, can we be a renewed disciple fully modelling Jesus mercy and love.
Only after initial conversion and the full apprenticeship of discipleship can I become like Jesus (v. 40b) and become a master or leader for others and help correct their little faults. (“splinter,” v. 42b)
How do we know this process has occurred?
In the next metaphor, Jesus talks about trees and fruit. He notes, “Every tree is known by its own fruit.” We cannot merely depend on our education, or the fact that we have riding along on the Catholic bus through the various sacraments. The final steps in the journey must involve a profound cooperation on our part. Like the earliest disciples, we must drop our nets and follow Jesus as his disciples. When we do this, our life will change and bear fruit. If we do not see fruit, there is a problem.
By literally walking with Jesus and experiencing his life and teachings, we awaken our conscience with the help of the Holy Spirit. Our heart needs to be fully awake in him.
This is a fundamental choice on our part. We need to say “yes” to Jesus. This is an act of our will. We need to surrender our life to him, and make him the center of our life. We may need to repeat this act many times in order to be continuously converted to his will.
Jesus final metaphor is a kind of litmus test, or scorecard. Are we really a fully initiated disciple of Jesus? Jesus observes that, “from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.” The most profound demonstration of our holiness, and our conformity to the discipleship of Jesus, is how we control our tongue. We might be attempted to jump ahead and focus here, but unless we have taken the previous steps, we will likely fail.
Our journey begins not by following the rules, but by literally following the person of Jesus!
We must be changed by him from the inside out!
EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C
Sirach 27:4–7; Psalm 92:2–3, 13–16; 1 Corinthians 15:54–58; Luke 6:39–45
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