Deacon Tam Tran

THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND

And he told them a parable, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye." Luke 6:39-45

On November 10, 2012, the Idaho Fish and Game Development officials mystified over the frightening scene of hundreds of deer jumping to their deaths off a 120-foot High Bridge, just east of Boise, Idaho. The wildlife officials say deer are frightened by cars prompting their jump and the animal did not realize the bridge's drop. When the first deer jumped over, the rest of the herd just blindly followed their leader.

In today’s Gospel Jesus warned that when a blind lead a blind, both will fall into a pit. This is exactly what happens to the deer. The expression "The blind leading the blind" is a metaphor and it is used to describe a situation where a person who knows nothing is getting advice and help from another person who also knows nothing.

Although we understand Jesus did not want us to fall into a pit by following a blind, but the big question is how do we know who is blind who is not blind?

The Parable “A Blind Leading A Blind” compels us to study and revisit what is truly important in living our lives as Christians. In the Bible days, there were several rules about what to eat and what not to eat, and a great deal of emphasis was placed on washing our hands, and so on. The Pharisees and religious leaders put a lot of weight on these things. It became easy for many to believe that as long as we can keep those rules and regulations, we are fine with God – even if our inner hearts and thoughts are far away from God. Jesus called this attitude and common occurrence an example of the blind leading the blind.

If our focus is on outwardly acts of religion and if what we care about the most is what others can see, then we are blind, and whoever is following us is also blind…and we are all on a road into a pit.

In contrast, if our hearts are right with God, everything else will ultimately fall into place, and by God’s grace we will live lives that are truly pleasing to God – regardless of what others might think of us.

I don’t know what you think but I continue to be amazed at the people who make it into leadership roles in America.  Do we ever wonder why we are in such a mess?

All we have to do is turn on our TV and we will see what I mean.  The tempo of our nation is no longer being set by leaders, but rather, by entertainers.  Our children are taught to seek out celebrity. A recognizable face carries more influence than it should be.

Let’s face it.  We have become a nation of followers and as Jesus warned us and that will end in a ditch. We are in a ditch alright, and we have gone off-road because of who we have chosen to be our leaders. It is the result of following “leaders” who can’t see beyond the bow of the boat.

Sight and vision are not the same and neither are knowledge and wisdom. Sight is the functioning of the eye that let us see. It is what happens when the eye perceives light and processes it into an image. However, vision is more important than sight. Vision is the process by which the brain is able to assimilate what they natural eye sees and convert it into an anticipation or prediction of what might occur as a result of what one sees.

Knowledge and wisdom are the twin sisters of sight and vision. Knowledge is nothing more than accumulation of information gathered through one’s senses or independent study. Wisdom is the application of the knowledge resulting from that study.

Even the most unlearned of men can look at a thing and know if it is functioning properly. Fixing a machine that is not working properly requires the application of knowledge.  Vision is figuring out how to prevent the instrument from malfunctioning again, rather than just fixing until it breaks again.

Also, the “ME” generation wants results and they want them NOW.  Because they have no long-term vision, they are unaware that temporary comfort is the enemy of long-term success. Our “leadership” has played upon this national weakness and we suddenly find ourselves travelling into a ditch.

Look, I love watching LeBron James play basketball, but I have no desire to find out who he is supporting in the presidential race.  If he has some advice on how to shoot foul shots, then I am all ears.  But his basketball talent does not transfer into wisdom in other areas. Why would anyone be influenced by his political views?

Can anyone tell me what makes Anderson Cooper or Rachel Maddow an expert on life?  Have we ever stopped to ask ourselves how they even got to occupy those seats inside our TV screen?  Why would we take advice from anyone who doesn’t understand that the purpose of sex is procreation?  If they can’t figure out basic science, why would we care what they say about the more complicated issues of life such as our spiritual life?

It is time to stop following the spiritually blindness. Let me give you another story for you to take it home this weekend.

On September 11. 2001, Islamist extremists hijacked two commercial planes that crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. When the first airplane hit the first tower, many people ran down to underground subway to hide. As the second airplane hit the second tower, electricity went out and the underground subway was in complete darkness and big scenery of chaos. Everyone was panicked and screaming to find the way to get out, but no one knows exactly where to go.

Suddenly, one very loud voice said, “follow me”. It was a voice of a blind man who was a beggar at this subway station for many years. He knew exactly where to go, and he led every out of that subway safely.

Who is the blind here?