In this section of Luke's Gospel, Jesus is still laying the groundwork of discipleship. He is throwing out wisdom sayings that are little guides to life like a collection of multi-textured prayer beads. Each one is meant to disturb us into deeper awareness. It is as if he is saying, "Do your foundation work so you may be secure in your passage through this life as together we build God's reign, or awaken to its presence among us now."
"Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but every one when he is fully taught will be like his teacher. Luke 6.40-41
One of my favorite paintings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder is the Blind Leading the Blind. As they begin to tumble in the ditch, one notices the church in the background. The artist plays the two in contrast. The wisdom tradition of scripture is meant to guide us though it cannot protect us from the need to choose wisely what we do or follow. That choice is ever our own.
So Jesus recommends we pay attention to self and that we worry less with our neighbors shortcomings.
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye. Luke 6.41-42
As if we do not have enough to ponder here, Jesus goes on to remind us that the fruit we bear is of vital importance. From within we are nourished by what flows from our heart/mind. There can come forth good or evil and we choose which stream we feed. Some traditions suggest we stifle the evil. Others that we see it and invite it to move along, to exit little by little. You choose but notice it passes through us all. Others will know because "out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (6:45) Elsewhere in scripture we are reminded that as small as the tongue is, it is a rudder which propels us in good or evil. Thus our moms often said, "Mind your tongue."
Which brings me to a whole other aside. My Mom did not pull me up short often but when she did it had lasting impact. I don't any longer remember what I had said, but I remember how she stopped me. I had in my teen years passed some judgement on someone else. Mom stopped me and said, "Carr you cannot judge people by what they have. You never know what they have been through to be where they are today. Perfectly good people have suffered misfortune." It might have been less impactful had she stuck with, "Mind your tongue."
Jesus wraps up this first lesson on discipleship with our barn.
Every one who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep, and laid the foundation upon rock; and when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 6.49 But he who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation; against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." Luke 6.47-49
In this part of North Carolina old foundations are made of native stone square cut. They produce a foundation which in many cases has lasted for over two centuries. Greeacre is one such house. Jesus here offers us one such foundation. Upon it we build a growing awareness of God's reign. Without it we are but a toppling tobacco barn.
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