Domes - Our Monthly Newsletter
Dunbar UCC
March 2, 2008
John 9:1-12
Seeing
- Last week I did a memorial service for a man who, as a boy, grew up in this church. As those services go, there was much sadness and grieving by family members and friends -- some of whom had not seen each other for years. But there was a group I noticed that were friendly to some, but ignored others, even when the others spoke to them. They turned away. So I said to someone: “What’s going on there?” They said, “Those people are from one side of the family who won’t forgive the other side. I don’t think they’ll ever forgive them.”
- The story in our Gospel reading this morning is about a man who was born blind. Isn’t it interesting how many stories there are in the Bible about blind people -- people who don’t see -- can’t see -- physically blind or spiritually blind. Sometimes God condemns a whole population -- a whole nation -- because no one can see.
- What do the scriptures mean with these stories? If you’re talking about a whole nation, there must be many thousands of people who can literally see. What do we mean when we say, figuratively, “That person is blind!”?
- Jesus called the religious leaders of his time: “Blind guides.” Were they all physically blind? What didn’t they “see?” They were all experts of the Bible. They recited passages from Genesis and Exodus. They knew the 10 commandments -- and hundreds of other holy laws. But Jesus called them blind because there was no love in their religion -- there was forgiveness. And for Jesus -- that’s what it was all about: mercy, patience with one another -- love that forgave even one’s enemies. As far as Jesus was concerned, if we don’t practice the way of peace, the way of forgiveness -- then we are blind. We see, physically, but spiritually -- we don’t get it.
- Jesus healed the blind man. But the religious leaders said: “He can’t do that! -- It’s the Sabbath! -- he’s breaking the law! This man Jesus is evil -- his powers come from the devil! We must kill him!”
- And they tried -- but you can’t kill love -- you can’t kill goodness. That’s why Jesus Christ is still with us -- still working miracles among us. He will open our eyes if we ask him. He will give us a heart that loves and forgives and shows mercy.