Loving God, sometimes our ability to see falters and we look only at appearances.  Renew our vision this day by the power of your Spirit, that we might see as you see and love as you love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

    All through the gospel of John, there’s being able to see, and then there’s really being able to see!  Last week, Jesus “saw” the woman at the well as she really was and spoke to her innermost longings.  In an earlier encounter, Jesus “saw” Nathanael under the fig tree, and was able to see into Nathanael’s heart, announcing that there was no deceit in there.  Today, as well, there is plenty about being blind and being able to see, not just physically, but also spiritually.

    The disciples look at the man who was born blind, and they see somebody who is being punished for sin.  However, Jesus looks at the man and sees somebody who is in need of healing and who will soon be a living illustration of the power of God at work.  The Pharisees look at Jesus and see a sinner.  Why? – Because he dared to heal somebody on the Sabbath.  However, the man who can now see looks at Jesus and sees a prophet and one who worships God and one who embodies God’s power to heal.

    In our first reading today, too, Samuel and God see things differently.  Samuel knows that God has chosen one of Jesse’s sons to be king over Israel.  As soon as Samuel sees Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son, he is sure that this must be the one.  After all, he is the eldest, and probably the tallest, and quite possibly good-looking to boot.  However, we are told that God doesn’t go by appearances.  Rather, God sees the heart!  On this basis, it is the youngest son, David, who is anointed king – the one who wasn’t even important enough to be invited to the feast.

    Actually, if we were to start to compile a list, there are probably many examples of cases where we see people, but don’t really see them.  One example would be homeless people, where many are afraid to look them in the eye or to actually have a conversation with them.  We look away and hurry past, just in case they might ask us for money.  We see only a person with their hand out, rather than a person who is loved by God and who has a story to tell.

    The same could be said of prostitutes standing on the street corner, where some might say, “Would you look at that?  Doesn’t she have any self-respect?”  However, lately it has been coming to light that many of these women and girls are there against their will.  Are we able to see the situation for what it really is, rather than pronouncing our judgments?

    And what other examples can we think of?  Do we see people’s disabilities without seeing their gifts?  Do we see people’s physical deformities without seeing the person inside?  Do we see people’s race or skin colour rather than seeing a beloved child of God?  Do we see stereotypes or unique individuals?

    You may or may not have noticed in today’s gospel that once the blind man has received his sight, people don’t seem to recognize him any more.  His neighbours, and those who had seen him before as a beggar can’t decide if it’s really him or not.  Apparently they don’t recognize him without his blindness!  So how well did they really know him?...  What a stunning example of not looking past somebody’s disability.

    We also see in today’s gospel how easy it is to focus our attention on only one thing and totally miss the big picture.  The Pharisees, for example, simply can’t get past the fact that Jesus broke the Sabbath rules.  It doesn’t seem to matter that an amazing healing has just taken place.  They have decided that Jesus is a sinner and will simply not allow themselves to be confused by any other facts!

    At the same time, the man’s parents are concerned above all else with being kicked out of their synagogue community.  You might have thought that they would be overjoyed to see their son finally able to see.  However, instead they respond in fear.  They distance themselves from their son, indicating that the Pharisees should address their questions to him instead.  And so it is their son who ends up getting kicked out, rather than his parents.

    Realistically, though, don’t we do the same sorts of things?  It seems that especially when it comes to something negative, we get that one thing in our head, and it prevents us from seeing the good things that are happening.  I find myself doing it as well – especially when I’m tired – and one negative thing suddenly seems as though it is more important than all of God’s blessings.  We, also, are not always able to see.

    However, this is where God has the power to heal us, as well.  We talk about spiritual gifts such as wisdom and discernment, which have to do with our ability to see.  As we are reminded today, God sees the heart rather than appearances.  God sees our hearts, and God sees the heart of every person we encounter.  And Jesus, as God in the flesh, demonstrated this same ability to see people’s hearts rather than appearances.

    When we think about this as it applies to us, some might think that it’s scary, but it’s actually truly amazing.  For God not only sees what is in our hearts, but loves us – so much so that he was willing to send his Son for our sake.  God sees us as we really are, meets us at the point of our deepest need and longing, and treats us with love and compassion – offering forgiveness, healing and eternal life.

    At the same time, God calls us to grow up into Christ, and part of that growth involves learning to see as God sees – looking beyond appearances to see what is in people’s hearts.  We do this, of course, by the power of the Holy Spirit, who continues to teach us, and to empower us, and to give us life.  May that same Spirit grant us the ability to see as Jesus sees and to love as Jesus loves.  Amen.

Lent 4(A)                                    John 9:1-41
March 30, 2014                                1 Samuel 16:1-13
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2014 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved