Loving God, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Spirit, that our vision might be renewed.  Help us to see as you see, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            If we were going to have a theme song to go with today’s readings, it might be Ironic by Alanis Morissette.  After all, irony seems to abound.  In the reading from 1 Samuel, the one son of Jesse who is not even invited to the sacrifice is the one whom God has chosen.  Isn’t it ironic?  And, in the gospel, the man who has been blind ever since he was born, is able to see far better than the religious leaders when it comes to acknowledging who Jesus is.  Isn’t it ironic?

         And then there are all of those other details in the gospel – like the fact that the neighbours of the man born with blindness no longer recognize him once he can see.  Or, like the fact that nobody in the gospel seems to celebrate the gift of sight for this man!  Or, like the fact that the religious leaders claim to know things that just don’t make sense.  Or, like the fact that “it is mud that clarifies” (sundaysandseasons.com).  Isn’t it ironic?

         Many of us have probably experienced the kind of visual impairment that happens when we are so focused on one thing that we don’t see something else.  In 1 Samuel, the focus at first is on those sons of Jesse who are tall, and strong, and old enough to be respected.  However, as we are reminded, God looks more at the heart, and so the focus shifts to David.

         In the gospel, everybody seems to be focused on sin.  The religious leaders view the blind man and his parents as sinners, and they are also convinced that Jesus is a sinner.  In fact, even Jesus’ disciples initially want to know whose sin it was that caused this man to be born blind.  Because of all of this focus on sin, the religious leaders are unable to see that the power of God is at work through Jesus, in order to heal and to give life and light.

         In today’s gospel, it is the man who was born with blindness who demonstrates the clearest vision – not just physically, but spiritually.  He knows that Jesus could not have healed him without the power of God at work through him.  He sees that the Pharisees are being willfully blind when it comes to Jesus.  And, he recognizes Jesus as the Son of Man (as foretold in Daniel) and the Messiah.  Because of Jesus, he was blind, and now he sees.

         We, too, seek clearer vision when it comes to recognizing Jesus and becoming people after God’s own heart.  We have further questions to be answered downstairs in order to be moving forward.  Some of the next questions include, “Where do our gifts meet the community’s need?”  “What can be drawn together from the questions already addressed and made into an action plan?”  “What, on those lists, is easy to do and could be started today?”  “Where is God leading us to expand our vision beyond ourselves to those who have never experienced the love of God in Christ Jesus?”

         These are not necessarily easy questions, and sometimes clearer vision can lead to controversy.  After all, the man in today’s gospel is healed of his blindness and immediately finds himself in the middle of a debate about sin, and Jesus, and the sabbath.  He even ends up being shunned – simply for speaking the truth.  Isn’t it ironic?

         These days, we see plenty of people who are content to ignore the truth if it happens to conflict with their own beliefs.  “I’ve made up my mind.  Don’t confuse me with the facts.”  This has always been a human response, as we see in today’s gospel.  People choose to wear blinders in order to cling to their own narrow point of view.  However, Jesus is always challenging us to broaden our vision and to be alert to what God might be doing in our lives and in our world.

         The religious leaders (and others) had never seen anybody like Jesus – who claimed God’s authority; who challenged their understanding of God’s Law; who performed undeniable signs and miracles.  God was doing a new thing through Jesus, and only those who were open to the renewal of their minds were able to see it.

         We, too, are invited to remain open to the power of the Holy Spirit, who continues to renew our hearts and minds and vision.  May that same Spirit help us to see as God sees, and to love as God loves, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Lent 4(A)                                           John 9:1-41

March 19, 2023                                1 Samuel 16:1-13

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2023 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved