(Lk 6:39-45)
«How much our human family needs to learn to live together in harmony and peace, without all of us having to be the same!» (Pope Francis FT n.100).
In the assemblies of the first centuries the baptized were called «enlightened», people capable of orienting themselves, choosing and making autonomous.
The Lord didn’t allow his followers to take on the role of "guides" in the life of others (v.39).
The apostles of all times must only announce and remain disciples, that is, pupils of the Spirit - not experts.
God's Way is Christ himself. Person that can’t be communicated by teachers.
Global Truth: it’s not an “information” that fills empty heads and useless events redundant with exteriority.
The context of today's passage abolishes judgment, in the ideal of a personal existence transformed into wealth and gift - which ridicules any tendency of domination.
No one is master of the fate and personality of those who do not orient themselves, otherwise everyone goes astray (v. 39) - even with the best of intentions.
Jesus himself neither commanded nor directed, but educated and helped.
The rabbis got paid: He offered everything, living with his disciples [for mutual identification, but with a wide mesh].
Transparent and creative attitude: this is the true and only norm of conduct for the apostles of all times, often unable to grasp their own blindness - because they are still one-sided.
Again, of a plant it’s not the size and appearance that count, but the Fruit (vv. 43-45).
All the more reason to re-emphasize that church animators are not superior to others, nor are they the repositories of absolute truths.
In fact, Jesus is incomparable: Master sui generis (v.40).
He does not have a classroom furnished with a Chair and desks. And he still teaches along the way: there introduces us to meet ourselves, our brothers and the surrounding reality; in a process, on a journey.
He doesn’t hold quiet glossary, compilation or moralistic lessons: He amazes.
He does not reinterpret the quagmire of archaic knowledge, customs and dispositions - or fashions - authentic «beams» (vv.41-42) poked into the free eye of the soul, which deform its gaze.
He proposes his Person and his Life. As well as his reproaches - but precisely those and not other (obvious) volatile as «motes» (vv.41-42).
This while the false teachers considered themselves friends of God and recipients of obvious recognition.
From how they behaved, they seemed to feel distinctly superior not only to the people, but to the Master himself (v.40).
So He dubbed them for what they are: «hypocrites» (v.42). In the Greek language it means actors, people who act.
Jesus warns his followers [who in words gladly call him Lord: v.46] against presuming to be captains of the troop.
There is only one Master who directs and knows where to go; and each person is ‘unique’ - perhaps inexperienced and believed to be blind, but who ‘sees’ better than the big names.
These, from their bad treasure, will bring out - just around the corner - the «ugly and corrupt» for others too (vv. 43-45; Greek text).
Instead, the man of Faith still experiences a new Beauty inside, which wants to express itself and remain at first hand - not be satisfied with tearing a "mediocre draw".
Worst of ditches (v.39) in which we fall together.
«We are absolutely lost if we lack this particular Individuality, the only thing we can truly say ours and whose loss also constitutes a loss for the whole world. It’s very precious, precisely because it is not universal» (Tagore).
[8th Sunday in O.T. (year C) March 2, 2025]
