One of my favorite things to do for the guys at the seminary was computer shopping. Now, this isn’t out of any sort of materialism or anything like that, but it was because I enjoyed informing and telling others what things meant. What the difference between two different processor brands was. How much RAM they really needed. What all of the buttons and features meant. Why did I enjoy this? A simple reason. It was very, very easy to get lost in Best Buy, or whatever computer store we went to. There could be all sorts of jargon thrown out that makes computer shopping difficult, to the point that someone could get a machine that sounded good, but on the inside, was far from living up to expectation. My goal? To demystify all of that.
In our spiritual lives, we may feel that we can scoot by on appearances. On looking good. Perhaps just “being good enough,” or “being a good person.” However, this has to be the most unbiblical proverb that has appeared in our time. Jesus uses very clear language to indicate that good appearances aren’t enough. Appearing to have a picture perfect life isn’t what God is asking for. However, this begs the question: what does God look for? Do externals never matter, or is there more to the story? That is what we set out to discover today as we listen to God’s word.
To begin, we start off with the book of Sirach. This uses fascinating imagery, much like the trees that we saw not too long ago. He reminds us “When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear.” So are ones faults. Or when someone puts a piece of pottery into the kiln, all of the hidden faults, all of the air bubbles, all of the flaws that were not dealt with all of a sudden surface, and sometimes with catastrophic results, ruining the entire piece. Or even the fruit tree- it’s own fruit shows how much it was taken care of, or perhaps, how much it was neglected.
Whatever happens- it is much like our own human experience. Whenever someone begins to speak, typically, within a short course of time, we begin to discover what or who that person really is, with a few exceptions. We typically get to know the person and who they are- what matters to them, and even, their faults. Now there are individuals that are very good at hiding such things, but eventually, in due course of time, the truth is always revealed- because the outside cannot hold up appearances forever. That is the reminder of the book of Sirach. Eventually- there will come a day of reckoning, where all of a sudden, the good, the bad, and the ugly are laid out side by side!
We continue our track through the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians for our second reading. This is actually a very thought-provoking inclusion in this set of readings, because it seems to be encouraging putting on something external to cover up something else. However, this is not to say that externals do truly cover up bad, but that there is a conversion that occurs- but only through the Resurrection of Christ. It isn’t about fooling anyone but it is rather about truly taking up the appearance of Christ, which we will get back to momentarily.
When we arrive at the Gospel, we are hearing a parable that Jesus is telling His disciples, and it seems to be a series of short stories designed to get across a very simple point. He starts off: “Can a blind person lead a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?” Likely, we can very clearly hear the answer. However, it continues to go forward- no disciple is superior to the teacher, but is always like. What does this mean? Jesus Himself is perfect, and I daresay all of the disciples recognize that they are far removed from that ideal. This sets up the disciples for the next encouragement: “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” What is this to say? This means that Jesus is warning that there may be a temptation to look as if one has no faults and to lord it over others in pride. To use it to belittle others and to make them feel inferior.
Further, it is a rather intriguing conundrum- the fact that someone, clearly impeded from seeing would have the gall to point out a speck in someone else’s own eye. Why would someone do that? The answer is quite easy, actually! It is insecurity. When a person is so afraid to deal with their inner self, they start to turn outwards, and to focus upon others problems. If I don’t want to pay attention to the wooden beam in my own eye, then I will point out the flaws in another.
Further, the Lord shows the final fruit of this entire parable- when he tells about the good tree and the bad tree. The good tree bears good fruit, whereas the rotten tree bears bad fruit. What does this mean to say? It says that a good person internally will produce good works externally. A bad person internally will produce bad fruit internally. The contention is where someone convinces themselves that they are a good person, and yet they produce bad fruit. It isn’t a challenge to be overcome, but it is rather an encouragement- if a person wants to be a good tree internally, on the inside, and in his soul, he should also concentrate on producing good fruit- and not just fruit he thinks is good, but fruit that is actually and really good.
To bring this all back, however, consider what each of the readings are encouraging us to do. First, consider the encouragement from Saint Paul: do we want to put the incarnation on ourselves, or not? We need that outer garment of the resurrection, because it changes who we are inside! We should be willing to put that on over ourselves! Further, as we look at the first reading: are we good on the inside, or do we simply put up that façade to appear good? We don’t want to simply have that appearance, but we actually want to be good, so that when troubled waters come up, or when the kilns of life happen, we won’t be broken but will be found to be resilient! Finally, from the Gospel: are we like the person that wants to point out the flaws in others before dealing with our own much more substantial and serious concerns? Are we going to produce good fruit or bad fruit? The reality in all of this is that it can be so easy to convince ourselves that we have a good appearance. We’ve got it all going our way, all the friends we could want, everyone singing our praises, money to our name, and still be empty and hollow on the inside. We can have every luxury that can be afforded and still be poor and lonely.
So often in life, brothers and sisters, we can be tempted to simply do things for show. To look good. To look as if we are a guru. A professional. The person with the best opinions. The person who has nothing in their eye. However, if we are being truly honest with God and with ourselves- the more we convince ourselves there is no beam in our eye- the more we might need to take a look in the mirror. It can be so easy to set ourselves up in an echo chamber- and to simply listen to people who say only good things- to make that outward appearance look good. However- it is still very possible to be completely hollow and empty on the inside. If I go back to the days working with guys buying computers- it was so easy to get sweet-talked into a computer that sounded great on paper, and actually didn’t work all that well- because the parts weren’t so good.
We don’t want to be a people unaware or living simply on the surface level. Simply living to get by with the bare minimum. We don’t want to be the people who are attempting to lead others, whether at home or at work, and in reality having absolutely no idea where we are going. It is entirely possible to convince ourselves that, spiritually, we’ve got it all together, and yet, in reality, it is no better than the blind leading the blind. This isn’t meant to insult- but to challenge. We want to see clearly! We want to remove the beam from our eyes- so that we can more clearly see! That is the challenge, and that is what Jesus wants us to do. In the end, we will be sifted, and we will be sorted out- but the difference will be made in whether we convince ourselves that we need the Lord- if we want to be clothed with incorruptibility- or not.
Brothers and sisters- that is our challenge this week. Let’s not be a people that appear good and aren’t, but let us rather be a people who appear good- bear good fruit- and are truly good, inside and out.
