Lent
March 22, 2020
Scripture Reading: John 9:1-41
Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered, ‘And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.’ He said, ‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshipped him. Jesus said, ‘I came into this world for judgement so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.’ Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, ‘Surely we are not blind, are we?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, “We see”, your sin remains. —John 9:35-41
What causes us not to see what is right in front of us? Do we only see what we want to see? Do humans create blinders when they cannot or do not want to deal with the truth? What seems so clear to me is absurd to others while what they profess is totally alien to me. Why did the sale of guns increase because of a virus pandemic? How can we become one when we are so very far apart?
The story of the blind Bartimaeus is too real to be created as an allegory designed to help Christ followers understand how fragile our faith becomes when we are not able to be honest with ourselves and confront the fears gripping our hearts. It is that realness that makes the allegory work. Jesus describes purpose in the Pharisees blindness. They are caught in the web of lust for power and greed to the detriment of anyone who gets in their ways and not caring who they must step over to get more power and more greed.
When such behavior is carried to an extreme, we can be very critical but to be honest the lust for power and greed are as epidemic in our world as the coronavirus. We need to be very, very careful not to be drawn into their grasp.
Prayer: Lord, help us to see that which deceives with false facades of righteousness and justice. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.