The Rev. Melissa Hollerith
Today’s Gospel: John 9:18-41
“If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.” – John 9:33
Today’s gospel reading is about a man who was born blind. Jesus heals him, and the man’s neighbors bring the man to the Pharisees to complain that Jesus had healed him on the Sabbath, a day when no work is supposed to be done. The Pharisees question the healed man twice, trying to figure out who Jesus is and where he is from, rather than giving God thanks and rejoicing in the miracle that the man can now see.
During the second round of questioning, the man born blind says to the Pharisees, “This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.”
This gospel story at face value is about a man who is physically unable to see becoming physically able to see, but it is about so much more than this miracle. The man born blind was physically unable to see, but he IS spiritually able to see. Whereas, the Pharisees in this story are physically able to see, but spiritually, they are blind.
I think most of us tend to be like the Pharisees. We too have lots of questions when miraculous things happen. We too are skeptical and want answers. And as a result, we too can be spiritually blind to the miracles and wonders that God gives us each day. God gives us people, situations and other bits of grace every day that represent His presence in our lives. Many of these moments of grace are not as astonishing as the miracle from today’s gospel, but sometimes they are.
Much like the Pharisees, I struggle to see my blessings and to recognize them as a sign of God’s presence in my life. This week I went to the doctor for a check up, and he discovered I had Atrial Fibrillation and a racing heart rate at rest. I had no idea. I couldn’t tell. I don’t know how long I have had it, but it is a miracle it was discovered since I couldn’t feel it. So today I am choosing to be like the healed blind man rather than the Pharisees. I am giving God great thanks that He put the people and situation in my path so that the issue could be discovered. And although the Afib has not been arrested or resolved, I have hope that I will be healed.
During this Lenten season let’s pray for God to help us see God’s grace in our daily lives, and let’s pray that we might be agents of God’s grace for others each and every day.
Melissa+
It’s just another ordinary miracle today.
The sky knows when it’s time to snow;
Don’t need to teach a seed to grow.
It’s just another ordinary miracle today.
Life is like a gift they say,
wrapped up for you every day.
Open up and find a way
to give some of your own love.
Amen.
Written by:
Glenn Ballard, David Stewart and David Allan