As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' Jesus answered, 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.' 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, saying to him, 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam' (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.
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?' Some were saying, 'It is he.' Others were saying, 'No, but it is someone like him.' He kept saying, 'I am the man.' But they kept asking him, 'Then how were your eyes opened?' He 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.' They said to him, 'Where is he?' He said, 'I do not know.'
The inability to see is probably one of the most frightening challenges. Those of us who can see with our eyes often take for granted what a great ability it is. We can see the beauty of a clear blue sky or snow fall. We can see the leaves changing color during the Fall. We can see rain. We can read blogs, newspapers, magazines, books. No wonder a person who tragically and suddenly looses their sight experiences such hysteria.
Yet, those who are visually challenged are inspire those of us who can see. What visually challenged people cannot see through their eyes, they can feel through their hearts. Some of the greatest painters are those who cannot even see the canvass in front of them, but they paint the most beautiful artwork. One of the most beautiful stories from Little House On the Prairie was that of the visually challenged painter who struggled because her mother left her when she was about 4 years old. When her own mother sent for her, she would not go because of the anger she felt. She had not forgiven her mother. But finally, the young daughter and her mother were left alone in the church, they told each other their stories. Suddenly as the mother felt her daughter's hair and face, the daughter realized that her mother was blind just like she was. The tears the fell from their faces also fell from the audience that witnessed such loving forgiveness and reconciliation.
In today's Gospel narrative the visually challenged man is believed to be blind because of something he or his parents did. When asked: 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' Jesus answered, 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him." (Jn 9: 2,3). Jesus saw in this man, not his sin, but the beauty with which God created him and that God created him for the moment when Jesus would restore his sight and God would reveal God's works through the now formerly visually challenged man.
What are the preconceived notions we have of people who are different from us? Can we begin to perhaps understand that our prejudices towards others are based on ignorance that gives rise to our fears, and therefore blinds us to the truth? Can we understand that Biblical literalism is a spiritual blindness that challenges our ability to look past an individuals race,age, immigration status, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression/identity, culture, class, challenge, ability to speak or write in English, employment status? Is it possible for us to envision that each person's uniqueness is a way in which God reveals God's Self?
Because of Arizona's "Papers please" immigration law the issue of immigration has been blown up in our political and religious conversations. People who worship in the religion of Islam want to build an Islamic Center just a few blocks from the site of the formerly standing World Trade Center. This issue has ignited a firestorm of debate between conservative Christians and progressive Christians. Just today it was decided by a California Appeals Court that Prop 8 supporters cannot force California's Governor or Attorney General to support Prop 8 in court. What is really happening here? We are not seeing that people who are not white, of a youthful age, male, heterosexual, able to speak or write in English, born in America, or Christian as individuals who are created in the image of God just as anyone else is. We are not seeing that each person's dignity and integrity comes from God who has made each person as they are, with a purpose and a destiny that is different from every other person that God has made. We are failing to see God's goodness in all people who are not just like us, or are what we think they should be. When we do this kind of thing we are visually impaired to the point that we do not see that we are playing God with the quality of life for other people. We are not loving our neighbors as ourselves.
A great Priest I know of suggests that we learn to look at ourselves and others around us through God's eyes. Very often our difficulty in seeing others is the result of how we think God sees each one of us. God does not look upon us as worthless sinners. Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ all of us have been redeemed by God who loves us. Through God's eyes each person regardless of those things that we think are different and therefore not worthy of dignity and respect, is seen and known as a wonderful and beautiful person to God. An old hymn written by Adelaide A. Pollard contains these words.
Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the Potter; I am the clay!
Mould me and make me after thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in thy presence humbly I bow.
Now here is the irony of a hymn like this. When we sing hymns we are praying to God. St. Augustine said: "When we sing, we pray twice." Yet if we are going to sing and pray twice "Have thine own way, Lord!" Then we must also be prepared that God's way and our way are most often not in tune. That is one way to see it. Another way to understand it, is to see that God can mold and create and redeem us however and to whatever God wishes. Therefore a person who's skin is not white, who's gender is not male, who's age is above 50, who's sexual orientation is not heterosexual, who's gender expression/identity is not a male born and a male therefore he must be, or a woman born therefore a woman she must be, or unable to speak or write in English, or unable to see, walk, talk, think, behave, socialize, work can very well be molded and fashioned to reveal God just as they are. Do we ever understand that when we ask God to "wash me just now" that can also include washing away the spiritual, visual challenge of seeing that God reveals God's Self through other people who are different from ourselves? Can we also be washed of the idea that people who are different than what the status quo says they should be, should not have their equal rights and opportunities to work, get married, live in peace with their families, themselves, their own cultures, church communities, live in their own homes, vote and have their vote matter? When we learn to see other people as God sees them and us, then our own visual challenge can also be healed, and we can finally seek to live in a community, world and Church of loving compassion and sharing.
Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 17, Book of Common Prayer, Page 233).
O God, the King eternal, who divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Renewal of Life, Book of Common Prayer, Page 99).
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Unity of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, Page 818).
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