Lord, it is good to give thanks to you

Amidst his teachings this week, Jesus asks us, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?” (Lk 6:39). Certainly, Jesus is not talking about an individual who is physically blind. We all know that a blind person is quite capable of guiding others. Actually, the blind persons portrayed in the gospels are individuals who sought out Jesus’ healing and believed in him. They are real models of discipleship. Instead, Jesus is speaking metaphorically about a truly disabling lack of vision, a spiritual ignorance that can cause one to stumble. Such a lack of vision occasions serious risks: One might follow the wrong teacher or follow the wrong path in life.  

As a teacher, Jesus has been instructing us these past few weeks on the blessedness of those often considered least in our society. He has also taught us the power of mercy, forgiveness, compassion and even love of our enemies. A life governed by such practices builds community, encourages inclusion, cultivates justice and works to realize the kingdom of God here and now. With such teachings, Jesus shows himself to be a truly visionary teacher for those of us striving for the spiritual insight necessary to become his disciples. Such instruction confirms that he aims to draw us all together rather than to separate or divide us. Moreover, while noting that the student is never superior to his teacher, Jesus offers us all something really amazing. He says, “when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher” (Lk 6:40). What an incentive!! Fully trained, Jesus is inviting us to become like him. Unbelievable! How right to pray with the Psalmist today, “Lord, it is good to give thanks to you” (Ps 92:2).    

Indeed, it is good to give thanks to the Lord. Before we get too excited about this prospect of becoming like Jesus, however, he cautions us about the pitfalls on the road to such spiritual vision. With another metaphor about eyesight, he warns us against the temptation to address the shortcomings of others when actually we need to address our own. He says “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?” (Lk 6:41). Perhaps using a bit of comic exaggeration here, Jesus suggests we can become easily distracted by the splinter-sized shortcomings in another person’s life while failing to attend to the boulder-sized iniquities lodged in our own. Whether it is greed, gossip, judging others, or some other evil habit obscuring our vision, such waywardness disables our capacity to see. We become susceptible to following the wrong teacher and straying onto the wrong path. Much like a snowball gaining size as it gains momentum, Jesus warns us that failing to address our own shortcomings while judging others results in an even more disastrous consequence, namely hypocrisy. Though we need to address our own major misdeeds, instead we prioritize judging others, often focusing upon their most minor failings. Hypocrisy lurks when we determine that someone else has a problem when, in fact, the difficulty is our own. Further, such hypocritical deceit takes hold when we pretend that our own iniquities are smaller and less serious than they actually are.  

So how can we resist and overcome such a stumbling block? First, we can simply remember that Jesus sees us as we really are and still loves us, and always loves us. Listening to trustworthy companions who can point out the boulder-sized failings that obscure our spiritual vision will also enable us to become honest with ourselves and to get back on track. In addition, we must acknowledge that when we turn away from God our own hearts become broken and our capacity to love is diminished. Such an awareness will motivate us to return to Jesus our teacher and his invitation to become one with him.   

Finally, Jesus closes this sermon with a metaphor that defines the outcome of imitating the One who is all good. “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit” (Lk 6:43-44). In a similar manner, cultivating Jesus’s teaching of all that is good, we become one with him cultivating goodness for our world. So, with hearts bent on yielding such a bountiful harvest, we pray, “Lord, it is good, to give thanks to you.”