Luke 6:
36
It
appears at first glance that the Gospel writer got it wrong. Luke tells us that Jesus told a parable to
his disciples. However, what he says
does not appears to be a parable—a least not the kind we are familiar
with. When we think of a parable we
think of a story with a message.
Certainly there are many examples of this; the Good Samaritan, the
Prodigal Son or as we heard last week the parable of the lost sheep and the
lost coin. One source numbers Jesus
parables at 46. So there are a lot of
stories with a message. They are not all
presented as stories but most are.
Often
there is a twist at the end like the prodigal son where the wayward son is not
given a chance to throw himself on the mercy of his father. There are ones that surprisingly seem to
uphold negative behaviour such as the Parable of the Dishonest Manager. This is one of the most puzzling in which a
manager is dismissed by his master and he connives with the people who owe his
master money to cheat him. Jesus
concludes the parable by having the master commend the dishonest manage—go
figure.
However,
what these all have in common is that they are presented as stories. Indeed one definition I looked up defines the
parable exactly this way, “a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach
some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson”. However, the same source does give a second
definition, “a statement or comment that conveys a meaning indirectly by the use
of comparison, analogy, or the like”.
In
today’s Gospel reading Luke presents Jesus telling his disciples what Luke
calls a parable. However, it doesn’t fit
either definition. It certainly isn’t a
story. It is only a list of
characteristics and traits of people that are not positive; the blind leading
the blind, the disciple not being above his master, not seeing the beam in your
own eye. He calls us all
hypocrites. This is a bit closer to the
second definition. However, there is no
indirect meaning here; Jesus is telling us directly, do not be like this.
There is
certainly a lesson in here for us. So
that is possibly what Luke had in mind when he calls it a parable. The parable always contains a lesson, even
when it is not always easy for us to get it right away. I particularly like it when his disciples complain
that parables are hard to understand; I am with them on that. Jesus occasionally does relent and givens
them and us the meaning of the parable as he does in the parable of the sower
who sows on the bad soil and the good soil—thanks be to God for that.
However,
in our parable today there is no mistaking Jesus’ message. In the beginning of the passage he tells us
directly: judge not so you won’t be judged; do not condemn and you won’t be
condemned; forgive and you shall be forgiven.
In the parable portion he is less direct; he poses a question. Perhaps that is more parable-like; can the
blind lead the blind? He gives a direct
answer—no, they will both end up in a ditch.
Perhaps this is not completely direct.
I don’t believe Jesus was speaking of people who have eyes that do not
see. He is taking about people who are
blind in other ways. Then he switches
back to a direct statement; a disciple is not above his master.
Perhaps
some of Jesus’ disciples were getting a bit above themselves and Jesus wanted
to give them the proper perspective.
Then the kicker, take care of the beam in your own eye rather than the
mote—a truly tiny thing— in your brother’s eye.
All this
set’s up what seems to be an impossible standard for us to live by. Indeed we are even told that everyone who is
perfect shall be as his master. Jesus
seems to be saying that we should strive to be perfect. Indeed, in the Gospel of Matthew (5:38) Jesus
tells us, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. This certainly sets the bar pretty high. No,
let’s not mince words; it sets the bar at an impossible level. How are we supposed to strive to be
perfect? It really is impossible for any
human being to be perfect. Aside from
Jesus himself, is there anyone in history who was ever perfect? Not that I am aware of.
In fact,
I think there is a great danger in trying to be perfect. We can easily try to hide our imperfections
from others and more importantly from ourselves. Unless we are able to be honest with
ourselves about our shortcomings—those aspects of ourselves we don’t really
want to acknowledge, Carl Jung calls it our shadow— we will not become the
people that God intends us to be.
I don’t
believe that Jesus truly expects us to be perfect. He was, after all, fully human as well as
fully divine. He also knows us too well
to expect that of people. I have found a
better translation of the word which is usually translated in these passages as
perfect. One source translates the
original Aramaic, which was Jesus’ native language, as ‘all-embracing’ rather
than perfect.
That is
something which we can all strive to do and be.
Be all-embracing as your heavenly father is all-embracing. We can
embrace life, all of God’s creation and strive to live as God intends. Let us be all-embracing. Amen
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