8th Sunday of Year C, 2 March 2025

8th Sunday of Year C
2 March 2025

The Fall of the Blind
The painting The Fall of the Blind by Pieter Bruegel (1526-1569) is shocking. It vividly depicts the words of Jesus. Six blind men hold on to each other, their path leading downhill. The first has already fallen into a pond, and the others inevitably follow. Their faces are pitiful, their clothing poor—blindness has turned them into beggars. A sight all too common in Jesus’ time and still present in many places today.

Jesus himself was deeply moved by the plight of the blind, healing many who suffered. The story of blind Bartimaeus of Jericho is well known. He cried out for mercy so loudly that Jesus called him over and asked:

“What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, that I may see again!”

And Jesus restored his sight.

Blindness Beyond the Eyes
But even those who can see may still be blind. This is the blindness Jesus speaks of today—a far more widespread condition than physical blindness.

To be blind to one's own faults while clearly seeing the faults of others is worse than the loss of physical sight. Jesus uses a striking image, now a well-known proverb:

“Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the beam in your own eye?”

Jesus exposes one of the greatest wounds in human relationships: our tendency to focus on the faults of others while ignoring our own. Why do we see others’ mistakes so clearly, yet struggle to acknowledge and admit our own?

Jesus calls this hypocrisy, and he condemns it.

Look at your own faults first! Then the faults of others will seem tiny in comparison. Your own mistakes are like a beam, while those of others are mere splinters. Yet, we often perceive it the opposite way—we suffer from others’ mistakes while failing to see how much of a burden we ourselves can be, especially when we believe we are better than them.

Facing Our Own Faults
It’s easy to object:
"My mistakes aren’t that bad! Compared to what others have done, my faults are like splinters, not beams. I haven’t killed anyone! I haven’t seriously deceived others! Does Jesus really mean I should see myself as worse than criminals?"

Another objection:
"Am I not allowed to point out someone else’s mistakes? Didn’t Jesus himself say we should correct our neighbor in private?"

Indeed, one of the hardest things in life is to honestly tell someone what is wrong with them. It takes courage, especially when the other person is in a position of authority.

But this is precisely what today’s Gospel teaches. Jesus encourages honesty and helping others—but only after we have first been completely honest with ourselves. Only those who recognize and regret their own mistakes, with a sincere desire to change, can guide others in a way that truly helps and heals. Otherwise, we become blind guides leading the blind, just like in Bruegel’s painting.

A Call to True Reflection
Ash Wednesday is only three days away. This season invites and challenges us to start with ourselves—not just pointing out the faults of others but examining our own hearts.

Lent is a time of personal reflection and conversion. When we step forward to receive the cross of ashes, we make a public declaration:

“I, too, need change, transformation, and conversion. And I am grateful for the chance to begin again.”

There are many ways to fast, to renounce, to abstain. But perhaps this Lent, we could take on a new kind of fasting:

Abstaining from judgment.

Jesus said in last Sunday’s Gospel:

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.”
“With the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Perhaps this is the path that truly bears good fruit.

Fr Joe, P.P.