What do you see March 22 2020 Rev Dolson
Before you begin to read this message, you may find it helpful to first read John 9:1-41. It is provided below in a slightly modified version, where the speakers in the text are more clearly identified. Originally, the plan was to have different voices reading the scripture so the listener could better identify who was speaking. Try to imagine the different voices as you read.
The gospel of John 9:1-41
1 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth.
2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7 saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.
8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?”
9 Some [neighbors] were saying, “It is he.” Others [neighbors] were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.”
He [‘blind’ man] kept saying, “I am the man.”
10 But they [neighbors] kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?”
11 He [‘blind’ man] answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash. ‘Then I went and washed and received my sight.”
12 They [neighbors] said to him, “Where is he?”
He [‘blind’ man] said, “I do not know.”
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.
15 Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He [‘blind’ man] said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.”
16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others [Pharisees ] said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided.
17 So they [Pharisees ] said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”
He [‘blind’ man] said, “He is a prophet.”
18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and [Jews ] asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”
20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.”
22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.
23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they [Jews ] said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.”
25 He [‘blind’ man] answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
26 They [Jews ] said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
27 He [‘blind’ man] answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”
28 Then they [Jews ] reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.”
30 The man[‘blind’ man] answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 lf this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
34 They [Jews ] answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he [Jesus] said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
36 He [‘blind’ man] answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.”
37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.”
38 He [‘blind’ man] said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him.
39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.”
40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?”
41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”
Welcome back! John encourages the reader to see the ways in which an awareness of Jesus can be revealed. The two readings leading up to this Sunday included John 3:1-17 and John 4:5-42. We have discovered Nicodemus and then the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well develop their growing awareness of Jesus from very different perspectives.
John pulls us into this story today with a question from the disciples, when they ask, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind.” The disciples were seeking an explanation for his inability to see. Why does this happen, they asked. They already had an explanation in mind based on the teachings of their religious and cultural beliefs. As you read this chapter, you the reader, discovered the disciples were asking based on their ancient knowledge around physical challenges, such as blindness. In that time, the common belief was that blindness and other physical challenges were a direct consequence of sin – where there was suffering there was sin – either the parents sinned or the child was sinful, or both. The consequence of sin in this case was a blind baby who grew into the man before them.
You may wonder how they could think in such ways. How could sin result in a blind child? Yet such faulty reasoning may continue to flow through into our 21st century mindset. Yet, there continues to be blame laid on people for life situations that are beyond their control. Perhaps it is easier for people to lump poor choices and difficult circumstances together. Yet, Jesus teaches that it was not a choice or a consequence of actions.
When we look back into the ancient times, we discover that the blind man and his family were likely isolated from their community. Shunned by those who believed the blindness was caused by sin. We may be able to empathize with them, the family. Isolation has become a reality for many people during the past month. The COVID 19 virus has sent us away from one another. We are keeping our distance in public and, whenever possible, we are staying in our homes. This imposed isolation can make us feel less secure, more exposed. Some are already experiencing economic instability and feel alone in their worries. It seems the majority, rather than the minority, are discovering the impact of fear and panic over financial and food concerns. It shows up in reactions like hoarding. It is at such times that we are reminded to look to the bible. To dig into the stories and psalms that helped people through many crises.
Did you know that this week’s Psalm is #23? Could it be more appropriate? Perhaps you could speak it out loud. If there are others in your home with you, ask them to join in.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
God makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; God restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Thinking of God as our shepherd provides comfort and reassurance in times of trouble. God is with us through all things, in all things. Pivot toward God when you are feeling the stress of this current health crisis. Turn toward God and toward others who are able to provide comfort. Your Session elders and I are reaching out to each of you. Emails and phone calls let you know that we are here. We can be a comforting voice on the other end of the phone. Call any one of us if you want to talk about the troubles you are experiencing. Reach out to friends and family to stay connected. Our sense of community enables us to persevere in difficult times.
When Jesus was walking with the disciples through the community the disciples ask the question about the cause of the blindness he encouraged them to turns their focus away from dwelling on the problem, to stop looking backward for reasons. They were to look forward and find solutions. Jesus went on to explain that there was much work to do and little time to do it. We might hear the expression… make hay while the sun is shining! Jesus and his followers are to do God’s work while there is time. Jesus proclaimed that now is the time. I can almost hear him saying, tick tick tick…
Jesus then turned to focus on the man, spit into the dirt and placed the mud on his eyes. The man was told to go to the Pool of Siloam, one of the great ancient structures. It was a feat of engineering at the time. The pools of water inside the walls of Jerusalem were created to ensure a source of water should the city be held under siege by an invading army. Hezekiah initiated the project to dig out a 533 metre tunnel under the City of David. This tunnel allowed water to flow from the Gihon Spring from outside the city walls. The water flowed into the city to different pools, including the Pool of Siloam. Hezekiah’s Tunnel would carry fresh water through the centuries.
The blind man went to the Pool of Siloam to wash the mud from his eyes. The Pharisees heard of this man, heard of Jesus working on the Sabbath, his healing of this man, and set out to question the man. The formerly blind man spoke of his experience with Jesus, proclaiming his as a prophet. Although some of his neighbours recognized the man and the miracle, many did not believe that he was the actual blind man. They could not see the man, only his affliction. Had he only been recognized by his blindness? Is that why the blind man was not recognized when he had been healed? There was doubt over his identity and doubt of the healing. The authorities went on to question his parents to substantiate
his identity. When his family was questioned, his parents affirmed his identity and deflected the questions toward their son.
The Pharisees were dealing with two distinct issues. First, this formerly blind man was testifying on the healing powers of the prophet and providing evidence of the healing powers of Jesus. Secondly, the healing action took place on the Sabbath. It was forbidden to heal on the Sabbath unless it was a life threatening situation. The blindness was not life threatening, yet Jesus worked on the Sabbath to heal him. Their decision was to eject the man from their community. The healed man was sent out from them.
When Jesus heard that the man was banished, Jesus looked for him. When he was found, the man experienced the great revelation that Jesus was the Son of God. The man’s visual sight was provided as his spiritual insight grows. You may recall the Samaritan woman at the well grew into her understanding of Jesus, as well. First she recognized him as a prophet, then as the Messiah. This man also gradually grew in his understanding.
I urge you to follow William Barclay’s suggestion to re-read chapter 9 in John’s gospel at this point. Notice the progression of how the blind man grows to understand Jesus. First he refers to him as a man, then a prophet, and finally as the son of God. Insight often arrives in stages, as dawning realizations. Insight allows us to recognize when what was known is no longer adequate to describe the situation or the others around us.
This passage from John’s gospel speaks to significant differences in understanding ourselves in relation to others and to God. How must our perspectives shift in order to grasp an understanding of others who experience life in radically different ways? What is it like to try to describe your experience to them? How can we try to understand their experience?
These are the many challenges that alter our perception. The blind live in a world that is very different from the one known by the sighted. Consider the shift that occurs when you experience illness. When our health is good, it can be difficult to imagine the risk for those with compromised health. When our cupboards are full it can be difficult to imagine what it is like to have food insecurity. When our bills are paid and our assets are debt-free, it can be difficult to recall or imagine the fear of debt and employment insecurity. We are called to shift our perspectives to recognizing the challenges faced by others.
During this difficult time of trouble with COVID 19 we are asked to consider other perspectives. The potential demand on our societal systems requires that we consider how our actions affect others. How can we shift our perspective away from fear and pivot toward a calmer sense of being? Prayer works well. We can pivot our focus to God. Take your fear and concern into prayer and talk with God about how to be in this difficult situation. Remember that you can take measures to care for yourself and others. Reach out to one another with phone calls and emails. Care for yourself by frequently washing your hands to halt the spread of germs and the virus, of course. Go for a walk in the fresh air. If you are unable to walk, step out onto your balcony or porch or stand by a window that has been opened a bit. Breathe in fresh air.
Remember that many are working diligently to provide what is needed or will be needed in the near future. You cannot control the societal measures taken to protect us. You cannot control the actions of your neighbours and family. You can take charge of your actions. Remember to get proper nutrition, exercise, and sleep. Remember to pray and to share your concerns with other people. If you are unwell or unsafe, reach out for help. Call me, your minister, to share your concerns.
We have witnessed a growing sense of insight within the world in the past few weeks. This insight has grown to recognize that we are a collective body of people. We are more than our political and economic systems. We are more than our individual communities or nations. We live in a shared humanity within God’s creation. Our individual perspectives and actions have an impact on the people around us and on people around the world. May this insight deepen and expand over the coming days and months. May we learn to live with respect and consideration for one another around the world.
Praise be to God.
Prayers of the people
O holy God, we thank you for keeping our lives in your care and protection. We lift up our prayers for any and all who are in harm’s way. For those who walk in danger, for those exhausted and seeking relief, for those who face a mountain of worry, debt or other challenges. We pray you will be our guardian and guide, lighting the path of justice, healing, and peace.
We pray for those who struggle with major transitions in life, those who struggle with their faith and those who struggle with grief, ancient or new. We pray you will keep each person in your tender care and mercy, O God.
We pray for those who are sick in mind, body, or spirit, for those weighed down by depression or pain, for those recuperating from surgery or accident.
We pray for all who work to care for those affected by COVID 19. May they feel your loving presence as they care for the ill and care for the economies of the world.
We pray that you will guide us to protect the whole of creation that you so love. In places of war, bring hope and prophets of peace. In places challenged with natural disasters, place those who will offer wisdom for restoration. Where there is unrest, injustice, and oppression, encourage those who seek justice and open the ears and eyes of those who are ambivalent.
We pray for your protection for the people we care for and love.
We lift up Ron, Sandy and their family as they continue to deal with the impact of Ron’s treatment.
We lift up Brenda, Mark and family as they mourn the death of George and care for his widow, Evelyn.
We lift up Betty Lou’s daughter, Bonnie, as she continues treatment for breast cancer.
We lift up Susanne’s extended family in New Zealand as they heal from surgery and wait for further treatment.
We lift up Gayle’s granddaughter Courtney and new great granddaughter Kyla. Be with them as they heal and grow together.
We lift up Rob, son of Jane and Jim. Be with him as he lives with the impact and consequences of a brain tumor.
Oh holy God, be with your people as they suffer and seek your peace. Allow your Spirit to linger with them. Be with those in isolation and quarantine. Be with those who have difficulty with social distancing.
We are thankful for the gifts you provide to those who care for your people. We pray that you will continue to bless the work of PWS&D, Presbyterian Sharing, and all others who devote their efforts to walking alongside those in need.
We pray for people who are seeking you this day, for those who are searching for new meaning and purpose for their lives. Guide and direct them in their spiritual journey. Give them the vision to see signs of your promise, the wisdom to discern what is false and what is true, with courage and curiosity in all their searching. May the joy of Christ surprise them and lead them to a place of welcome.
Where hope has grown tired and thin, lift our sights, so that we may see hope beyond hope, life beyond death, and you, lifted up before us. We pray all this through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, forever and ever. … Amen.
Commissioning and Benediction *
Remember how much God loves this world and so love all of creation in the name of God. May God keep you in faith. May Christ embrace you with love. May the Holy Spirit empower you with new life. All this, now & forevermore. Amen
