Gospel in Art: Can one blind man guide another?

The Blind Leading the Blind, by Sebastian Vrancx © Christie's London, 9 July 2014

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 27th February 2022 - Luke 6:39-45

Jesus told a parable to his 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.

'There is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces sound fruit. For every tree can be told by its own fruit: people do not pick figs from thorns, nor gather grapes from brambles. A good man draws what is good from the store of goodness in his heart; a bad man draws what is bad from the store of badness. For a man's words flow out of what fills his heart.'

Reflection on the Painting

Our painting by Flemish artist Sebastian Vrancx depicts the subject of the Blind leading the Blind, popularised about 50 years before by Pieter Brueghel the Elder in the late 16th century. We see the leader of the group already having fallen into water, whilst the second man is on a narrow bridge about to tumble in, too. A small dog clings to the path, desperately trying to climb up again onto steady ground. The other figures are still on dry land, feeling their way forward. Soon they too may fall into the water. Look at what the men are carrying: the first a beer pitcher, the second a musical instrument underneath his cloak and the third man a purse over his shoulders…

Jesus paints this lovely image of the blind leading the blind, recognising that we all have our blind spots - the failings and shortcomings that block our vision. So when we go out there and proclaim the word of God, we have to be humble at all times and hold back from criticising others.

Today we pray that we may receive the grace to see our blindness. Recognising where we are blind is already a major part of opening our hearts fully to Christ. But whether we see well, or are partially blind, the main thing to remember is how God sees each of us from the inside. He has full vision of who we are!

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/1097
Christian Art - www.christian.art