Real followers of Jesus are those who live by His word. Formed by Him and becoming like Him, they then can be guides to others and models of goodness exhibiting integrity and truthfulness (Luke 6:39-45).
Begin with yourself
Having underlined that they are children of the Most High and so must be loving and merciful to others like their Father (as in last Sunday’s gospel reading), Jesus proceeds next to his followers’ teacher-disciple relationship with Him. They are not above Him, but are only a work in progress trying to be like Him as their teacher. They still must fully qualify and be trained in order to be somehow a teacher to others, sharing with others things they have learned from Jesus. True followers of Jesus do not deserve His reprimand: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I command?” (Luke 6:46). His real disciples have a life task of listening to His words and acting on them (Luke 8:15).
Concretely, they must be careful not to end up like a blind person trying to guide other blind persons and so together falling into a pit. Jesus must have observed in the circle of His disciples some attitudes and conduct that warrant censure, like being too critical of others and setting themselves up early on as judges pouching on the faults of their fellow beings.
Patronizingly calling someone “friend” and volunteering to improve that person, while unaware of one’s own need for obvious repair, is a type of blindness that spells untruth. Such condescending attitude deserves the charge, “You hypocrite.” Focusing on the tiniest faults of others and being blind to our own staggering imperfections reveals a basic lack of self-knowledge. Thus we tend to paint innocent pictures of ourselves, and view the outside world with disdain rather than with understanding and compassion, quick to judge rather than quick to forgive as the faithful disciples of Jesus are fashioned to be.
Integrity vs hypocrisy
One who is very critical of others but is not self-critical is accused of being a hypocrite. A hypocrite is one whose outer way of living does not conform to an authentic inner disposition, thus lacking integrity and wholeness. With examples from the natural world, Jesus illustrates His teaching. A tree is known by its fruits. And a tree brings forth fruits it is disposed to produce, according to its kind: a good tree, good fruit; a bad tree, bad fruit; a guava tree, guavas; a mango tree, mangoes. Applying the meaning of the metaphor to human beings, clearly a good person brings forth good fruits and deeds; an evil person, evil fruits.
Deeds and actions flow out of the inner dispositions of one’s heart. Behavior is intimately tied to one’s sense of identity. Action is preceded by character. And while it is true that one can change one’s dispositions by altering one’s way of life, the point of the gospel is the importance of congruity and integrity between the inner and outer dimensions of a person; the absence of such integrity means hypocrisy. In each person is a spiritual center whose image is the heart, which further drives home the point Jesus is making. For as the hidden source of man’s speech, the heart contains the abundance or treasure the mouth draws from and makes available to the outside world. When a person’s words spell out evil and hatred, we are sure the heart is corrupted; if from it flows out words of reconciliation and peace, we have assurance that the heart is in contact with the God of love and compassion.
Alálaong bagá, the schooling of the followers of Jesus aims at their integrity of character in imitation of the Teacher. There must be congruity and unity between the outer and inner aspects of their way of living. Their fundamental identity as children of the Most High and as loved and transformed by the Savior and Teacher must define them. And they need still to fully qualify to “be like the Teacher.”
Join me in meditating on the Word of God every Sunday, from 5 to 6 a.m. on DWIZ 882, or by audio streaming on www.dwiz882.com.