The blind leading the blind is a catchphrase that we learn early on because it applies in so many areas of life. It actually comes from the New Testament (cf. Lk 6:39; Mt 15:14). Jesus himself used this idiom to warn about the dangers of being led astray by incompetent spiritual leaders. Jesus warned against those who do not know which is the right spiritual road. Thus they go down the wrong path and take many others with them. The only way to avoid that spiritual pitfall, according to Jesus, is to know for ourselves which is the right road. As Jesus puts it, “Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye” (Lk 6:42).
This raises what can be a difficult question of how to know when we are on the right spiritual road; how do we remove the log from our own eye? The difficulty is apparent in light of the way our culture places high value on the pursuit of self-interest, at times even at the expense of our neighbor. Adding to the difficulty is the idea that we always pursue that which we value most as a matter of individual choice. In that case, we can tell whether we are on the right spiritual road by first acknowledging the end that we pursue. Then, a consideration of the end that we ought to pursue will provide the answer we seek (1 Jn 4:1). As Jesus would say, “where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Mt 6:21).
The answer that emerges from our comparison will show that not just any road will do. Not all roads are right roads (Prov 14:12). Jesus himself warns us that “False messiahs and false prophets” operate in the world so as to deceive even the devout (Mt 24:24). The right spiritual road for the most part depends on the beliefs and hopes that we hold dear. In other words, it depends on what we love. This is why Jesus points out that our love for God goes hand in hand with love for our neighbor, including our enemies.
We cannot hate our neighbor and love God. In fact, our faith and hope compel us to express our love for God with love for our neighbor (1 Jn 4:20-21). Although like the good Samaritan, we each determine how and when to love our neighbor, such love is what we take with us when we pass from this life to the next (1 Cor 13:13). The love that we keep and nurture in our hearts for God, for our neighbor, and ourselves is the gift that we keep and take with us to the other side (1 Cor 13:13; Mt 10:13). This is the mystery of love.
We might say that faith in the mystery of love binds us to Christ and to one another in a unique way. For this reason, we celebrate the great mystery of love in our Eucharistic celebration. In turn, our celebration enables and empowers us to bring the love of Christ to others in our daily lives. Our acts of love reveal the meaning of this great mystery. As followers of Christ, our Eucharistic celebration is truly a sending out into the world because it connects our earthly life to the heavenly realities promised by our Lord.
Not everyone is open to this message, however. The spiritually blind refuse to see the truth of what Jesus proclaims. Those who do accept his message and act on it are people of good will. A person of good will has the mindset of serving others with an active regard for their benefit and welfare. This is the example of service that Jesus gave us as a guidepost for finding and following the right spiritual road. We do well in taking to heart his good counsel, for the road of loving service leads to our eternal treasure.
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