Christian Art | Blind Lead The Blind | King James Audio Bible
Luke 6: 39-42 – Week 23 Ordinary Time, Friday (King James Audio Bible KJV, Spoken Word)
Overlapping with Sunday Week 8 Ordinary Time, Year C
39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
We are called to self-knowledge by Jesus. It can be strange to realise that we have been looking at life, and other people, through the filter of our own prejudices, our own mental baggage, the accumulation of our individual and less than perfect history. Our experience, good and bad, and the impact of our experience constitute in large measure the glasses, the spectacles, through which we see the world and regard other people. These Gospel verses ask us to take off those glasses and to consider them objectively – to consider as objective what had become subjective – and to look again without those glasses, to see the world and other people anew.
This is the beam in our own eyes, which distorts our capacity truly to recognize others, which is to say to see Christ in others. Indeed, we may be assured that when we see another human being and we do not see Jesus Christ in that human being, then we are blind and there is the beam in our own eyes; our bad experience has drawn us away from God, occluding our true sense of our fellow human beings, rendering us blind. Jesus alerts us to this condition, so that we may counter it, reminding ourselves always to look with the eyes of love, and to see Christ always in our fellow man.
Jesus lived with us as our master. He taught us both through what he had to say and through his manner of living. There is a model of perfection here which we may follow. This is a way of humility. Jesus humbled himself by dying for the sake of our sins on the cross. Jesus humbled himself by becoming human, then he nailed the sign of our salvation to the cross. If God can make this staggering leap of humility, to become like us, and one of us, who are we possibly to refuse God’s call?
Concluding Prayer | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ
Lord Jesus Christ,
who when the whole world was shrouded in darkness
mounted the wood of the cross
as the innocent victim for our redemption,
give us always that light
which will bring us to eternal life.
Who live and reign for ever and ever.
King James Audio Bible | Endnotes
Blind Leading The Blind
The Gospel contains a powerful message about leadership, discipleship, and self-awareness. The parable of the blind leading the blind warns against following those who lack insight and understanding, and reminds us of the importance of seeking guidance from those who are wise and knowledgeable.
Throughout the Bible, we are warned against false teachers and leaders who seek to mislead and deceive God’s people. In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet warns of the dangers of following false prophets, saying: ‘Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.’ (Jeremiah 23:16)
In the New Testament, we are warned against false teachers who seek to lead us astray. The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15: ‘For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.’
In addition to warning against false leaders, the passage in Luke also reminds us of the importance of discipleship. Jesus tells his disciples that they are not above their master, and that they should strive to become perfect, just as their master is perfect. This idea is echoed throughout the Bible, with many passages emphasizing the importance of following in the footsteps of Jesus and striving to become more like him.
One such passage is found in 1 Corinthians 11:1, where Saint Paul writes: ‘Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.’ This idea of discipleship is further emphasized in the book of Ephesians, where Saint Paul writes: ‘And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.’ (Ephesians 4:11-13)
The passage in Luke also reminds us of the importance of self-awareness and humility. Jesus tells his listeners to first remove the beam from their own eye before attempting to remove the mote from their brother’s eye. This message is echoed throughout the Bible, with many passages emphasizing the importance of self-examination and repentance.
In the book of Proverbs, we read: ‘He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered’ (Proverbs 28:26). And in the New Testament, the apostle John writes: ‘If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’. (1 John 1:8-9)
Christians have commented on the passage in Luke, offering insights and interpretations. Saint Augustine said: ‘The blind cannot lead the blind, but the clear-sighted can. The disciple is not above his master, but he who is perfected shall be as his master. Do not therefore desire to be a teacher, but rather to be taught.’
Padre Pio, also known as Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, was an Italian Capuchin friar who lived from 1887 to 1968. He is renowned for his piety, his stigmata, and his gift of healing, and has become a beloved figure in the Christian world. Born into a devout Catholic family in Pietrelcina, Italy, Padre Pio felt a calling to the priesthood from a young age. He entered the Capuchin order in 1903 and was ordained a priest in 1910. He spent much of his life as a humble friar, dedicated to prayer, the sacraments, and the service of others. Padre Pio’s most famous spiritual gift was the stigmata, the visible wounds of Christ that he bore on his hands, feet, and side. He experienced this phenomenon for over 50 years, from 1918 until his death in 1968. While some were skeptical of his wounds, many believed them to be a sign of his profound union with Christ and his participation in the suffering of the crucified Christ. In addition to his stigmata, Padre Pio was also known for his gift of healing. Many people came to him seeking physical, emotional, and spiritual healing, and he prayed over them, sometimes prescribing special devotions or treatments. While some were healed miraculously, others did not experience a physical cure, but nonetheless found comfort and peace through his intercession. Padre Pio’s life was marked by his devotion to God and his love for others. He spent long hours in prayer, often in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, and had a deep appreciation for the power of the Eucharist. He also had a special love for the Virgin Mary, whom he called his ‘Heavenly Mother’, and encouraged others to pray the Rosary. Today, Padre Pio is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church, and his influence has spread far beyond Italy. He is remembered for his holiness, his humility, and his profound union with Christ, as well as for his compassion and concern for the sick and suffering. Christians of all denominations continue to look to him as a model of faith and devotion to God. Prayer To Saint Padre Pio | A Prayer For Healing Saint Padre Pio is renowned for his gift of healing, which he used to help countless people throughout his life. He believed in the power of prayer and the importance of placing our trust in God, even in the face of illness and suffering. In James 5:16, we are reminded that ‘the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective’. Padre Pio’s life was a testament to the truth of this verse, as he interceded for those who came to him seeking physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. One of the most striking examples of Padre Pio’s healing ministry was the case of Gemma Di Giorgi, a young girl who had been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Her parents brought her to Padre Pio, who prayed over her and blessed her with the sign of the cross. To the amazement of her doctors, Gemma’s condition began to improve, and she was eventually healed completely. In addition to physical healing, Padre Pio also believed in the importance of emotional and spiritual healing. He often spoke of the need for repentance and conversion, and encouraged his followers to turn to God with contrite hearts. In Luke 5:31-32, Jesus tells the Pharisees, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ Padre Pio understood that true healing involves not only the body, but also the soul. For those who are in need of healing, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, Saint Padre Pio can serve as a powerful intercessor. He believed in the importance of prayer and the power of God’s grace to heal even the most difficult of cases. Through his intercession, we can ask God for the strength and courage to face our illnesses and our struggles, knowing that we are never alone and that God’s healing love is always with us. So let us pray: ‘Saint Padre Pio, you who had a deep faith in God and a profound love for your fellow human beings, we turn to you in our time of need. We ask for your intercession on behalf of all those who are sick and suffering, that they may be healed in body, mind, and spirit. We ask that you pray for us, that we may have the strength and courage to face our illnesses and our struggles with faith and hope, knowing that God is with us always. We trust in God’s love and mercy, and in the power of prayer to bring healing and wholeness to all who seek it. Saint Padre Pio, pray for us, and lead us to the healing grace of God. Amen.’ Prayer To Saint Padre Pio | A Prayer For Peace Saint Padre Pio was a man of peace, who lived his life in the service of God and his fellow human beings. He believed that peace was not merely the absence of conflict, but a state of inner harmony that could only be achieved through a deep and abiding relationship with God. In John 14:27, Jesus tells his disciples, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ Padre Pio understood the importance of this peace, and dedicated his life to helping others find it. One of the ways that Padre Pio fostered peace was through his ministry of reconciliation. He encouraged those who came to him to confess their sins and seek God’s forgiveness, knowing that this was the first step towards inner peace. In Matthew 5:9, Jesus says, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.’ Padre Pio believed that this was not just a call to be a mediator in conflicts between […]
Saint Michael the Archangel is one of the most well-known angels in the Bible. Saint Michael is mentioned by name five times in the Old and New Testaments. In the Book of Daniel, Saint Michael is described as a ‘great prince’ who protects the people of Israel. In the New Testament, Saint Michael is mentioned in the Book of Revelation, where he leads the battle against the dragon and his angels [ … ]
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