Seeing and Blindness

Tuesday, March 27, 2007 -- Week of 3 Lent
(Charles Henry Brent)

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117
An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 956)
Psalms [120], 121, 122, 123 (morning) 124, 125, 126, [127] (evening)
Jeremiah 25:8-17
Romans 10:1-13
John 9:18-41

[I discovered this morning that I read and commented on today's Epistle from Romans yesterday. Looked at the wrong line in the Prayer Book.]

John's story of the healing of a man born blind plays out like great opera theater. The man born blind gradually begins to see, deeper and deeper, and ultimately recognizes who Jesus is. The religious authorities began as questioners and gradually become more and more antagonistic. It sets up a telling conflict.

Underneath the story are several items of contention. There is the conventional belief that an adversity like blindness is caused by someone's sin -- i.e. handicaps are a punishment for sin or failure. This was a common and prevalent view. it is consistent with much of the theology of the Hebrew Scriptures, such as Deuteronomy and Proverbs. We see the disciples of Jesus asking him, "Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?" Jesus rejects this line of conventional thought. We will feel the effect of this powerful theology of consequences in the interrogation that follows. The religious authorities will continue to regard the blind man, now healed, as one "born entirely in sins."

Another bone of contention between Jesus and the religious leaders was that Jesus did not fit their messianic expectations. These are people who have studied their Bibles faithfully. They have collected all of the references that might point to the expected Messiah. They know where he is to come from. They know much of what he is to accomplish. Part of that expectation is that he will restore the political throne of King David and overcome the Roman occupation of Israel. That wasn't Jesus' agenda. He did not fulfill those expectations of biblical prophecy. He didn't fit the conventional vision of the Messiah.

So we have a blind man, presumably born in sin, who is being questioned about his healing. What does he think? What does he think about Jesus? He begins on the level of simple fact and observation -- "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 receive my sight." He starts by referring to "the man called Jesus." The authorities are skeptical. They continue to challenge the blind man. "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened?" "He is a prophet." The conflict escalates, and the man and his family are exiled from their community. To lose your standing in your community was like a sentence of certain death. They have no place to belong. Jesus hears of it and seeks him out. We have the dramatic scene when Jesus tells him that Jesus is the Son of Man. The blind man responds, "'Lord, I believe.' And he worshiped him." The blind man truly sees.

But the conflict with the religious authorities escalates downhill. First they begin simply as questioners, not opponents. They become more defensive when we learn that it is the Sabbath. Jesus' act of making mud and healing on the Sabbath is a violation of the Ten Commandments. The authorities take offense. They know what they know. They know Moses and the know the Bible. They know blind people are sinners. They know those who violate the Sabbath are sinners. They know where the Messiah will come from and what he will do. They do not know where Jesus comes from and he is not doing what they expect from the Messiah. Their expectations -- all formed by their Biblical faith -- blind them from seeing the good that is before their eyes.

It raises the question. When does our belief and our religious frame of reference blind us to the good that is before our eyes. I have an email correspondent who takes exception with me over my complementary references to the Dalai Lama, a Buddhist. I know Christians who reject outright any wisdom or insight that may come from Islam (or science) unless it fits within their settled faith, based entirely on the Bible.

Ironically, one of the major themes of the Bible is that God surprises us by acting through the unexpected person. John's Gospel gives us a model for openness -- the blind man who sees. He remains open and curious, willing to follow wherever his experience and observation takes him into deeper truth. His curiosity and willing courage cost him dearly. He is cast out of the religious community. But he lands right in the lap of Jesus.

Lowell
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The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR

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