How Blind Are We?

Job 16:16-22, 17:1, 13-16
Acts 13:1-12
John 9:1-17
Sight plays an important role in each of our readings today. Job speaks of laying his couch in the darkness of Sheol where The Pit will be his father and the worm his mother or sister (Job 17:13-15). In John, Jesus heals a man of blindness but does so on the Sabbath (John 7:13=15). And Acts tells the story of Paul causing a blindness to fall on a false prophet named Bar-Jesus who is seeking to block the spread of the gospel (Acts 13:11-12), whereupon the Roman Proconsul becomes a believer. Different circumstances, different conditions of sight.

Often, of course, scripture uses sight as a metaphor for faith or righteousness. Job wishes to enter oblivion and be removed from his constant torment. Paul is dramatizing Bar-Jesus’ refusal to “see” the truth. In John Jesus heals a man, but in doing so points to the “blindness” of the religious leaders of the day who are more concerned about strict adherence to the law than mercy and compassion. It’s all a little confusing isn’t it?

The fact is, even those of us who are blessed with sight have “blind spots,” issues or concerns or perspectives that can blur or obscure our vision of the truth as God presents it. Imagine being on the top of the Empire State Building (I have and it nearly scared me to death). Suppose, though, that instead of seeing the entirety of Manhattan and parts of News Jersey you could only see as through a narrow silt: a few streets; some birds; or maybe a fraction of the water surrounding the island. If we’re not careful we may find ourselves approaching life the same way, seeing or accepting only a fraction of all that God has given us or only a bit of what God is doing in our world. The challenge for us is to recognize out lack of vision, however it may manifest itself, and to turn the whole thing over to God for healing. Only when our vision has been corrected spiritually can we move forward, “looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

Prayer: Oh Lord, open out eyes, that your grace may become visible all around us and we are able to discern your will and follow your Son our Savior, Jesus Christ. In whose name we pray. Amen.