[Greek] τυφλός (typhlos), [Latin] caecus, [German] blind

[Greek] τυφλός (typhlos), [Latin] caecus, [German] blind: blind, not able to understand, short-sighted, opaque; 53 scriptural references

The Blind Leading the Blind: painting by Danish Renaissance painter Peter Bruegel (1568).

Background information:

The blind leading the blind:

1. This painting reflects Bruegel’s mastery of observation. This painting is based on Mt.15:14: the blind leading the blind.
2. Each figure has a different eye affliction. They hold their heads aloft to make better use of their other senses.
3. The first blind man falls into a pit. The leader of the group has fallen on his back into a ditch.
4. Falling into the pit means falling into destruction and ruin.
5. Because they are linked by their staffs, the leader seems to drag his companions down with him.
6. They pass along a path bordered by a river on one side and a village with a church on the other.
7. St. Anna’s Church, built around 1250, is depicted in the painting.

Greek Hellenism: This term means blind (unable to see), who walks away, blind to the future, intestines (caecum), blind alley (cul-de-sac), in the dark, inescapable, spiritual blindness, and choked with mud.

1. Man, wealth, FAVOR WITH THE WORLD, power, ignorance, and pride all can be potential sources (causes) of blindness.
2. The blind man is often associated with comparisons and proverbial expressions.
3. Such proverbial expressions include ‘the blind leading the blind’ and ‘ignorance is likened to a blind man walking in the dark’.
4. Spiritual blindness is often juxtaposed with physical sight.
5. Physical blindness is often juxtaposed with intellectual understanding.
6. Gnosticism make references to those unable to receive gnosis as spiritually blind.

Old Testament: This term means blindness and to make blind (literally, figuratively, and metaphorically).

1. Blindness was a very severe handicap in Israel. The blind were specially protected by the laws of Israel.
2. It was implied that one, who misleads a blind mean, is to be cursed.
3. Spiritual blindness is not necessarily tied to physical blindness.
4. God sometimes uses blindness as a punishment for sin.
5. Old testament prophets make metaphorical and figurative references to blindness regarding judgment and salvation.
6. The curing of blindness is an important theme of eschatological hope. Blind watchers are without knowledge.
7. God Himself will be a guide on the way for those who seek to see.

New Testament: This term essentially means to be blind and unable to understand. Examples include literal blindness, inability (or refusal) to believe, blindness by God’s providence, blindness through God’s punishment, Gentiles, and spiritual blindness. For purposes of brevity, literal blindness will be excluded.

Lk.6:39: Jesus told them a parable, ‘Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?'” (If the master is ignorant, foolish, and wicked, will the disciples be any different? One must be perfected by Christ. Falling into a pit means falling into destruction and ruin. Blind leaders can lead their followers into ruin.)

Mt.15:14: “Let them alone; they are blind guides (of the blind). If a blind person leads a blind person, both will fall into a pit.” (Jesus was seeking to uproot the Pharisees’ tradition of washing one’s hands before eating. Jesus stated that what comes out of the person is what defiles. The Pharisees are breaking God’s commandments for the sake of their traditions. The Pharisees are blind guides.)

Mt.23:16: “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.” (The Pharisees have inverted importance of oaths, revealing themselves to be blind guides. The Pharisees hold less meaningful oaths (gold) to be more important. They hold more meaningful oaths (temple) to be less important).

Mt.23:24: “Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel.” (The Pharisees expend great efforts on minor things. The Pharisees also neglect what is important.)

Mt.23:26: “Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.” (The Pharisees are more concerned for outer appearances while inner purity is ignored.)

Jn.9:39: I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” (Christ came into the world to give sight to those who are spiritually blind. To spiritually see is to discern the truth. The truth may seek to soften the heart of those who believe. The truth may also seek to harden the hearts of those who are spiritually blind, becoming more prideful, conceitful, blind, and ignorant, and obstinate.)

Jn.9:41: Jesus said to the Pharisees, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see’, so your sin remains.” (If the Pharisees were truly blind, they would have GENUINE CONSCIOUSNESS of their blindness. They would not be guilty of sin. Instead, the Pharisees have WILLFUL IGNORANCE AND CONCEIT. Because of their obstinance and hardness of heart, their sin remains.)

Peter’s blindness: “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall happen to you.”Mt.16:23  At first glance, Peter’s statement to Jesus sounds like a very reasonable statement. Peter is concerned about Jesus’ welfare. Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan!” Jesus stated that Peter was briefly possessed by Satan, who wanted to obstruct Jesus’ mission [in dying on the cross]. Peter was NOT AWARE of (or blind) to what he was actually saying to Jesus!

Vatican II and Synodality:

1. Pope John XXIII held the naive notion of bringing “fresh air” (worldliness) into the Church so that the Church “can get with the times”.
2. Pope Paul VI acknowledged that the “smoke of Satan” (upheaval and undermining of the Church) has entered into the Church.
3. Synodality has essentially continued Vatican II’s efforts to make the Church more worldly and less Catholic (more Protestant) in the image of man and his lived experiences.
4. The Church acts more like a United NGO (involved with politics, social justice, environmental, immigration issues, and secular values) rather than as a divine Church.
5. The Church is focusing too much on MAKING A BETTER WORLD and SEEKING FAVOR WITH THE WORLD. The Church has lost sight of its primary purpose in bringing souls into heaven.
6. Both Vatican II and Synodality have introduced human traditions and innovations which have harmed the Church ===> loss in the belief in the Real Presence

Modernist and Synodalist clergy have become blind guides:

1. Vatican “outreach” to the LGBTQ community: these clergy ignore, disregard, or pay “lip-service” to Church teachings against homosexuality.
2. They are blind to the consequences of blessing same-sex couples. Some have said that the Church has reached its “millstone moment” (a sin so terrible that it would be more preferable to be drowned by a millstone around one’s neck.)
3. These clergy are more concerned with inclusion, tolerance, and false compassion than following Church teachings. Synodality has become an IDOL.
4. They are intentionally blind, indifferent, or oblivious to Tradition. They believe that Tradition is going backward.
5. There are too many clergy who do not believe that there is anything wrong or sinful in engaging in the homosexual lifestyle.
6. The Church hierarchy evidently do not see anything wrong with appointing clergy who are engaged in homosexuality, criminality, or heresy.
7. They are either blind or indifferent to the fact that the German Church is “reforming” and “renewing” itself into decline and heresy.
8. The Church hierarchy is either blind or indifferent to the laity’s desire for the Tradition Latin Mass. They would rather close churches than encourage the TLM to thrive.
9. Synodality: They are blind or either indifferent to the disastrous spiritual and pastoral consequences of Vatican II. Synodality is doubling down on Vatican II.
10. Unfortunately, it looks like that things will remain the same (continuing problems in the Church). It seems that Pope Leo XIV will continue on this synodal path (accommodating the world.)
11. God’s providence: the Modernists’ and Synodalists’ hard-heartedness toward the TLM has actually sparked a Holy Spirit-inspired lay movement (especially with young people) toward the TLM.

Immigration: (The bishops’ human traditions (politics, social justice, and immigration)

1. The US government’s USAID massive govt spending programs and policies have been hidden from the American people since the Kennedy administration. DOGE is now shedding a light on this wasteful spending.
2. The questionable relationships of the US government programs, NGO’s, and charitable programs are now coming to light. Some of these expenditures have been used for questionable immoral and evil purposes.
3. The Trump administration and DOGE are now shutting off the money supply to all these NGO’s and government agencies. Layoffs and firings are already happening.
4. The USCCB, focusing primarily on immigration issues, have lost sight of focusing on the salvation of souls, abortion, pro-life causes, and the Eucharist.
5. As of late, Catholic and Christian donors have not been adequately informed by these charitable NGO’s of how this money is actually being used.
6. One does not have to be blind to see why these NGO’s, charitable organizations, USCCB are in an uproar. The money spigot has been turned off.
7. The USCCB are actually doubling down in their efforts against the US government in seeking restore money to these organizations. The bishops evidently are unable to see that this is a “bad look” for them (bishops fixating on money).
8. The USCCB is now comparing ICE to Nazis and slave-catchers. The USCCB just can’t help themselves. They are so blinded by their fixation on this world. Not a good look!

Cecum: The cecum is a pouch at the beginning of the large intestine. This term comes the Latin intestum caecum, meaning “blind intestine”. The related Greek term is typhlon (enteron). Typhlitis is the inflammation of the large intestine. In a sense, this is the ‘blind gut’ or ‘cul de sac’ (bottom of the bag). The cul de sac, frequently found in subdivisions, is also called a blind alley, dead end, and road with no exit.

Conclusion:

Cecum, blind, blindness

In the New Testament, there is a lot of physical healing going on. The scribes and Pharisees were often spiritually blind. God may use blindness to demonstrate His providence or His punishment. Since the Gentiles did not follow the Law, the Jews often perceived the Gentiles as blind or ignorant.

Satan’s influences:

1. Seemingly “reasonable ideas”: “I can do whatever I want”, “I know better”, “I can refuse”, “I have the right to do that”, “I can look at that”, “Everyone is doing that”.
2. One does not need to be full-blown possessed to be influenced by Satan. Satan only needs to make you forget about God!
3. Distraction and noise, inability to pray, spiritual dryness, busyness, sin, worldly values, SEEKING FAVOR WITH THE WORLD, addiction to vices and sin, fame, notoriety, wealth, attachment to worldly things

Update: Fortunately, more and more people are seeing through the toxicity of the cultural blindness of wokeness and cancel culture. Many thanks, American Eagle!

Unfortunately, the Catholic Church continues with the unfortunate legacy of clergy turning a blind eye (covering up) sex abuse in the Church. Until the Church weeds out seminarians with such homosexual inclinations, we will continue to have this problem.

Michael Mithamo, a blind person, was ordained into the Catholic priesthood in Kenya.

The Democratic representatives that left Texas are blind in thinking that they will be successful and effective. However, they will become poorer with fines and arrest warrants. Not a good look.

Unfortunately, there are too many clergy (and laity) who are blind to the punishment (chastisement) that awaits because of their hard-heartedness, moral confusion, apostasy, and silent approval of sin. (Rom.2:5: “By your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God.)

The blindness of Modernism and Synodalism: believing that “reform” and “renewal” will revive the Church and vocations. Tradition is the true reform and true renewal.

GREAT WARNING SIGNS OF SYNODALITY: The German bishops are literally going off the doctrinal rails. The German church is “reforming” and “renewing” itself toward decline and heresy.

We all must not be blind to the Nicaragua’s govt. persecution of the Church. The govt. just confiscated the iconic San Jose Catholic School in Jinotepe. We need to offer our prayers for them.

With the presence of social media, does Archbishop Weisenberger actually think that no one will notice that he appointed Fr. Buersmeyer, a member of a heretical priest group? Or perhaps this archbishop does not care? Or perhaps does this archbishop believes the same as this priest?

Great victory over wokeness: The vastly successful American Eagle featuring Sydney Sweeney selling good jeans/genes has given others permission to do what has been done for many years: To use beauty and sex appeal to promote their products and services.

“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” Hellen Keller

“One who has lost the capacity to recognize evil and to call it by its name has become spiritual blind.” Pope Benedict XVI  (It seems that many clergy are already spiritually blind about homosexuality.)

“Blind men, dumb dogs who can no longer bark. Men will do anything for money, zealous in avarice, lovers of gifts, and seekers of rewards.” Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) (Sound familiar? Priests overly concerned with money, politics, and social causes.)