Today's Gospel in Art - The blind leading the blind

The Blind Leading the Blind, by Pieter Brueghel the Elder 1568 © Museo di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy

Luke 6: 39-42

Jesus told a parable to the disciples: 'Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother's eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, "Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye," when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother's eye.'

Reflection on the Painting

In our Gospel reading of today, Jesus tells us that we all need a guide, for we are spiritually blind. In the imagery Jesus uses today, we have a warning to two groups of people. First, there is a warning to those who are following a guide. Then, there is also a warning to those who are thinking of setting themselves up as guides… Let's briefly look at each of these groups.

Firstly, Jesus is teaching us to be careful whom we follow. If we choose a blind guide, we will both fall into the ditch, as illustrated in our painting today. In our world, there are many bad guides we could follow. Think of the celebrity culture or even the political climate. When Jesus warned his own disciples about the danger of following the blind, he had the Pharisees particularly in mind.....

To read on see: www.christianart.today/daily-gospel-reading/172