Eighth Sunday of the Year
As we approach Lent, the readings offer a rich array of themes to consider. Gospel contains a string of three separate sayings on mercy: the blind leading the blind, the splinter in a companion’s eye, and a good tree and its fruits. Jesus had a sense of humour and loved to make people laugh — and slowly realize they were laughing at themselves. The gospel prompts us deep self-reflection about our own blindness in leading others, to acknowledge the plank in our eyes as we deal with the splinter in the eye of another, and whether we are like a tree that bears good fruit. For all future generations.
Frederick Buechner in The Faces of Jesus shows various pictures and paintings, as to how Jesus was depicted in various eras and cultures: Asian or African, a clown, a poor man in rags, and a royal. Each group can claim that Jesus reflects them. This fluid portrayal of Jesus is one of the core values of our faith, namely that we are children of God, and all are welcome. No matter how we look, whatever our background, with the lashings of guilt and gumption in our lives, we are embraced by God. This must allow us to see the face of Christ in anyone we encounter. The face that presents in all places and times is the ‘face of mercy and kindness.’ The is the call to all whether one is in leadership, namely a President or Prime Minister, or a bishop, or anyone else.
The Gospel calls us to examine ourselves as how we view others and the judgements we make. How do we view or judge people who are in need? With Project Compassion 2025 beginning on Ash Wednesday, negative view can emerge as to why we should participate, and that people are responsible for their predicaments whether a people living mental illness, unemployed, homeless, or poor. The scripture readings from previous weeks should squash such views. But despite judgemental views, despite violence, many people strive to be in solidarity with people facing many challenges. A stark example is of people going to the Mexican border to assist desperate people even though it is illegal to even offer them a drink. We continue to hear how the US government and violent nationalists judge and demonise migrants and impose unfair labels as criminals.
Structural sins, such as materialism, (hetero) sexism, consumerism, and individualism, that permeate society are often ignored. More and more we can be blinded to them because they have become mainstream, normalised, socially acceptable. These numb us in our responses. Luke in referring to ‘blind guides’ wants us to question our opinions and be cautious as to where we seek guidance. Bertrand Russell once said, ‘Fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.’ We need to admit limitations in our perceptions of others, to be aware as to what is happening in their lives, what has led them to the present situation.
It is all focused around Jesus’ words two weeks ago: ‘Be merciful, just as [also] God is merciful’ (Luke 6:36). Our judgments need to be seen through these lenses. Last week, we heard Jesus say, ‘Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you’ (Luke 6:27-28). When referring to enemies we may use euphemisms such as ‘that other group’ or ‘those people.’ When referring to ourselves, we might use phrases such as ‘our own kind’ or ‘people like us’. These all help to distance ourselves from those ‘others.’
Jesus is calling us to open us to new possibilities. He calls us to humility and wisdom of heart. Can we recognize that we blind in some ways and need guidance from one another? Can we see that what we dislike and criticise in another often mirrors our own failings?
According to Jesus, hypocrites are blind to their weaknesses or failures but notice them in others. They decry the faults of others. Blaming or fault-finding takes the focus off personal deficiencies and failures and negligence. It helps one feel superior to people mentioned earlier - homeless, asylum seekers, people living in poverty.
Jesus invites us to live ‘epiphany,’ to see what is revealed in our hearts, and the beauty, care, resilience, resistance, agency, love, and solidarity in others. If we care for them, we will show them how beautiful, talented, capable, industrious, genuine, original, creative, skilled, friendly, trustworthy, resourceful, good and lovable persons they are. ‘Judge people from where they stand, not from where you stand.’ Let us care for others by listening deeply to them without imposing our views, our plans, our ideas, our correction, or judgement without looking for opportunities to out blunders.
This is a lifetime work. Let us take time for self-examination. May we burn to be people of integrity and cultivate goodness in our hearts as we accept the love of God within us, and reach out to others in kindness, compassion, peace and justice.
"We are all just walking each other home..."
~~Richard Alpert~~