Day 6, Monday, 22 February An obstacle in a blind person’s way

 

RETREAT IN LENT 2021

Day 6, Monday, 22 February

An obstacle in a blind person’s way

It is good to be aware of the purpose behind the choice of readings in Lent. Why these readings today? The first is an excerpt from the law written on tablets and given to Israel. (Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18) which lays out in detail how the people were to relate to one another and ends with the ‘catch-all’ command, ‘you must love your neighbour as yourself.’ The second, the gospel (Matthew 25:31-46) written on the hearts of all women and men, invokes a blessing on all people whoever they are, ‘take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world’.

Both readings give examples of relationships, the first telling us what we should not do and the second what we should: ‘Feed the hungry, welcome the stranger’. As we ponder them, we realise their relevance for today. We still have so much starvation, so many migrants. And it is good to notice things we might otherwise pass over. For example, ‘you must not put an obstacle in a blind man’s way.’ I remember seeing a film years ago, made by Luis Buñuel, in which children make fun of a blind man, putting things in his way and laughing when he fell over. It was shocking.

It was shocking because we could so easily understand what an evil thing it was to do. We might say, ‘But they were only children.’ But we know immediately that is no excuse. They should have known better. Then we might say, ‘I would never have done something like that.’ But that is the rub. That is Buñuel’s point. We do things without thinking. Many are harmful, even shocking. In our relationships with one another on the family or the work level. Or on the political or international level. We should know better.

So, we start this first week of Lent examining these readings and trying to get ‘under their skin’. What are they saying to me? Where is the invitation Jesus is making to me? What is the kind of things I do – or don’t do – that I might look at? Where should I know better?