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Look down to see the sunSunday, March 30, 2014
John 9:3 However, he did spit on the ground and make clay with his saliva, and rub that around the man's eyes. "Go and wash," he said. And then when he had washed, the man could suddenly for the first time in his life, see. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Lord, make me a clear pane of glass for others to see you through. Lord, let me be whatever you require so your power can be seen in me. Inevitably, this calls for a turn downward, a path that leaves glory behind and discovers humility. Humility sounds almost regal, though. Let's call a spade a spade. We discover humiliation. This is the path Jesus took, and that Jesus calls me to take. Get low. Go on down home. Downbeat. Downright. Don't look up - look down to find the sun. Go blind, or somehow as Paul says, be the fool. Only then can I be cleared out enough of my own "sight" so others can get a least a fleeting glimpse of God in me. God plans no credit for me, no glory, no spotlight ... just as he claims none for himself. We are made to be like him, to give and not take, to love before we're loved, to lead by serving. God, let me be like you, and make this my greatest joy. The readings today are rich with parable, lesson, word picture and history. All of them point to the Bible's main storyline: we are made by God in his image, loved to be lovers. Nothing stops us except our fear, and Jesus has come to remove that fear. The fear is gone, and now we have nothing to fear except fear itself. And even that is gone. The spirit of the Lord rushes in upon us through the words and touch of Jesus. Even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I need fear no evil. I was once darkness, but now I am light in the Lord. Jesus came so that those who do not see might see, and those who think they see might become blind. In my own sight I see shadows, I see trees walking around. When you spit on my eyes, Lord, that's when I see what you want me to see: the joy of your salvation in the eyes of all your kids, and all the ways you give us to love each other. |
Taken alone, Jesus' statement sounds like a death knell to the hopes of the blind man. He asked Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?" But this time he said no such thing.