St. Martin's Church

 

March 30 4 Lent Sunday                                           John 9:1-41

  

Our lesson this morning is an entire chapter, and so way too much to include in a brief reflection. In the midst of all the possibilities, though, one thing stands out for me today: the practicality, the real life consequences, of meeting Jesus. A man born blind receives his sight from Jesus and it's driving the Pharisees crazy. How did he do it? What did he do? Why on the Sabbath? Isn't he a sinner?  In the midst of all the speculation and wondering, the man simply says, "One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."

 

There is an important place in the life of faith for theologizing, for scholarly work, for using our God-given intellect to try to plumb the depths of God. It begins, however, with our encounter with Jesus. We come to this journey of Lent as people who have known the power and grace of God revealed in Jesus - insight has been given, fear has been cast out, strength we didn't know we had (because it's not ours) brings us through a trial, joy abides... From that real life, lived out relationship with Jesus will then come our deepened prayer and understanding and praise.

 

The man who has received his sight in fact reveals his new understanding of what God is up to. As the Pharisees continue to fume and speculate, he boldly proclaims: "If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

                                    Rev. Bill Locke+

 

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