The Spiritual Blindness of Violence and Prejudice

Today's Scripture Reading.

John 9

A Man Born Blind Receives Sight

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 neighbours 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 Pharisees Investigate the Healing

 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, ‘He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.’ Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.’ But others said, ‘How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?’ And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, ‘What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.’ He said, ‘He is a prophet.’

 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 and asked them, ‘Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?’ His parents answered, ‘We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 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.’ 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. Therefore his parents said, ‘He is of age; ask him.’

 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, ‘Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.’ He answered, ‘I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.’ They said to him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’ He 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?’ Then they reviled him, saying, ‘You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.’ The man answered, ‘Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.’ They answered him, ‘You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?’ And they drove him out.

Spiritual Blindness

 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered, ‘And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.’ He said, ‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshipped him. Jesus said, ‘I came into this world for judgement so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.’ Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, ‘Surely we are not blind, are we?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, “We see”, your sin remains. 

Blog Reflection

I was not planning to write an extra blog post this week.   Ash Wednesday is two weeks from this Wednesday.   I will have much to write about.  However, as I have looked over the Gospel Readings to be used with this weeks Daily Offices from The Book of Common Prayer, and the news that is coming to us, I felt that something needed to be written.   

Some horrific things are happening on the other side of our globe.   Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and violence is on the rise.   It is happening because of prejudice disguised as religious driven zeal has influenced the leaders and people in the countries of Russia, Uganda and Nigeria.   Over these past few months there have been numerous reports of laws being debated, passed, and enacted.  Individuals are being beaten, rounded up, the cruelties are going unnoticed, without appropriate response or action.  

The Gospel Readings from St. John's Gospel chapter 9 this week deal with the removal of blindness.   The blind man was a beggar.  He had been unable to see since birth.  The first question out of the mouths of the Disciples was "what sin did the man or his parents commit?"  Jesus' reply was that he and his parents committed no sin, but was there to glorify God.  The religious authorities of Jesus' time make use of this man's healing by Jesus as an opportunity to mock and defame Jesus of Nazareth.  Their jealousy over His popularity, just cannot be contained any longer.  They need a scapegoat.  

Many LGBT people all over the world who have been blinded by the prejudices of others, have begged since their birth to have their rightful place in the Church and society.  They've been blinded to the true and compassionate Jesus, by those who are also blinded by misinterpretations of Scripture, and misinformation about them.  Now, marriage equality is sweeping much of the Western World, because the inability to see Christ in LGBTQ people is being healed, by the inclusive message of the Gospel,    Yet, the religious zealots of our time, continue to spread false rumors, and call what God is doing in our world, the work of evil.  Even to the other countries, formerly raided and colonized for the slave trades.  I guess those same countries are now being raided and colonized for prejudice towards LGBTQ people too.

It is more important now than ever, that Christians who know the Light of Jesus Christ and His Gospel of healing and reconciliation, become messengers of hope for those still experiencing the oppression of discrimination and misplaced religious-based bigotry.   As Baptized Christians, we must pray and work together so that the Name of Jesus Christ and His Church will have a good Name, because it is a "house of prayer for all God's people."   

May the hospitality and graciousness of God move upon all people of good will everywhere, call out those who use the Bible and their erroneous interpretations to injure and hurt, inviting them to repentance, mercy and conversion.   Yes, it is possible for the blind to see, because Jesus through us has cleared the dirt from our eyes, to see His loving presence in every person, every where.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p.815).

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, p.826).