After proclaiming the poor, hungry, weeping and persecuted as blessed, and totally rejecting the use of any form of violence in the life of His disciples, Jesus teaches them the true Christian values which they will have to put on before they can proclaim to others. Jesus wants to see spiritual growth and moral consistency in His followers. They cannot be like, ‘the blind leading the blind’, or the tree which does not produce ‘good fruits’, or the person ignoring a ‘log in his own eyes’.
The word ‘blind’ is used in a metaphorical sense referring to those who lack real faith in life. In the early church, when Luke was writing this Gospel, the newly baptized were considered illumined and therefore, they had the sight of faith. Since they were enlightened by the light of Christ, they believed that they knew everything about faith, thus having the right to hold the hands of others and guide them to Jesus. For Luke, a truly enlightened person will have to observe the principles of the Beatitudes to guide his way. Spiritual poverty is always a guiding yardstick.
The early church saw many teachers who thought that whatever they said or did was in perfect sync with the gospel values. Luke tells them that Jesus would call them hypocrites. Hypocrite means, an actor, who puts on the role of someone else in a theatre. These are hypocrites because they put on the mask of a righteous person and mislead others from the truth. They are blinded by the ‘log’ in their own eyes.
Jesus is inviting His disciples to be very consistent with their Christian morals and principles. Every Christian must see that whatever they speak must be supported by their actions. The disciple should follow the master. Our works should bring life to others and to our community. Jesus’ entire life was the work of God to bring ‘good fruits’ in the world. His death on the cross is the testimony and an example for all His disciples to emulate.
Christians must work towards bringing life and building communities and not destruction and death.
– Ranjan D’Sa OCD