Today’s Gospel concludes “the talk of the plain” (Lk 6:17-49). The commandment in verse 36, the center of Luke’s entire gospel, “Become merciful, just as your Father also is merciful,” is now proposed to the community with a series of similes. They are meant to lead Christians from observance of the law to recognition of the grace of God who loves every man. The conversion to which we are all called is a witness to the love of a God who loves us and has given himself for us. Like St. Paul we should be able to say, “No longer do I live, but Christ lives in me. And this life, which I live in the body, I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me” (Gal. 2:20). Those who believe that there is perfection Superior to forgiveness and mercy is blind, not enlightened. Outside of this path is the loss of one’s identity, that of being a child of God, and there is the loss of God’s identity, that of being infinite love.

Jesus poses two examples:

The first. A blind man cannot lead another blind man. The disciple, left to him, does not know much and depends on his teacher. But once he has been instructed and learned all he can from his teacher, he himself becomes a teacher, shares the knowledge and wisdom of his teacher and can, in turn, be a guide for others.

This we should all do: listen carefully to what Jesus tells us and put it into practice in our own lives. Only then can we effectively lead others to Him.

The second. We must be very careful about judging others. Jesus uses the gesture of one who tries to remove a speck of dust from another person’s eye while there is a large splinter of wood in his own. How can we see correctly to correct our brother’s vision when our vision is so distorted?

The flaws we so easily see in others are often trivial compared to our own flaws. Of course, much of the energy we exert to belittle others (the main element of gossip sessions!) serves unconsciously to compensate for our own shortcomings. Instead of elevating ourselves by changing our ways, we try to drag others down.

And, so often, our judgments are based solely on outward behaviors. We usually have no idea of other people’s intimate motives or intentions or awareness of their behaviors. And, while we may be very ready to criticize people behind their backs, we dare not say these things to their faces. However, there may be times when we will be asked to provide, as much as possible, an objective assessment of a person’s behavior or suitability for some responsibility. And, not infrequently, we sadly avoid that responsibility.

Messages of life

• The principle of good is in the heart of man. In biblical language, the heart has a very extensive meaning because it designates the whole person in the unity of his conscience, intelligence, and freedom: it is the organ that best represents human life in its totality.
• The heart is the “place” of God’s presence, and if God dwells in my heart, I will have good eyes and words and bear fruits of mercy.

Fr. Joby Kavungal RCJ

BASILICA Sanctuary San Antonio, Messina