April 21, 2024 ☩ Easter IV

“Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.”[1]  In the first letter of John, we find encouragement to recognize love, and the way of Christ in actions.

The larger Gospel narrative connects with how we are to recognize Christ active in our lives.  In Chapter 8, Jesus urges those in his own religious community to recognize the truth of his words, and to understand he does not seek his own glory but only that of God.  In this, Jesus is asking those questioning him to ‘hear’ the truth he shares, because it is only for God’s glory. 

Jesus identifies himself as connected to Abraham, and then he was questioned how he could know Abraham since he is so young and Jesus replies: “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”[2]  Then the religious folks readied to stone Jesus and he vanished.

What follows in chapter 9 is the healing of the blind man.  The disciples, in their narrow-mindedness, asked Jesus who sinned to lead to such a state of impairment – the man or his parents.   Holding onto ancient ideologies that purport blame, Jesus turns the narrative around.  Jesus did not see the situation with pity, but with opportunity.  Jesus said: “the man was born blind so that Go’s works might be revealed in him.”[3] Jesus spat in the ground, formed a mud and put it on the blind man’s eyes, then told the man to go wash it off in the pool.  The blind many had not seen Jesus but he sight was granted.  Ironically, the Pharisees question this man and ask who performed such an act – but the man had not yet seen Jesus, only heard him.  The Pharisees concern over a healing on the Sabbath blinded them to the glorification of God by renewing this man’s eyes.

The entire scene was a metaphor of spiritual blindness.  Even after the blind man testifies to how he gained his vision, he had to repeat himself to the Pharisees.  They heard the truth, but refused to accept it, and sought after reasons that would only suit their desire to condemn rather than to acknowledge what has glorified God’s name.

It was the Pharisees who were blind.  And today’s reading shifts us from seeing to other ways to perceive or recognize God.  Beginning with the blind man, his first experience was of hearing Jesus, not seeing.  That man’s understanding of what came to pass was clear and obvious.  He saw physically and he saw metaphorically the reality of God’s grace through Jesus.  What happened was evident, his sight was given.

This morning we hear Jesus claim to be the Good Shepherd and he explains that his sheep know his voice.  He goes further to say the Good Shepherd leads the way and cares so much that he lays down his life for the sheep.  Jesus alludes to the cross, the path through death into eternal life.  He paved the way, and following him, we may also find eternal life. 

Jesus expresses how much is at stake for The Good Shepherd as compared to a hired hand.  There is a depth of love felt in the voice and actions of the Good Shepherd that wouldn’t be found in a secondary helper who is in it for his own gain.  Jesus maintains focus on glorifying God in his life and for this he protects, leads, guides, and heals his sheep. 

We can find echoes of our learnings of Thomas here.  Thomas needed to see to believe, and so did all the other apostles.  Yet, Jesus goes further and reminds us that the figurative “seeing” --- true understanding – may not come through our ability to see, but perhaps in what we hear, and in what we experience.

As we journey on our earthly pilgrimage, if we struggle to ‘see’ Christ in our lives, then I challenge us to listen all the more.  And if we cannot hear Christ in our lives, then I encourage us to feel, with our hearts, where he is.

—

Yesterday, I had the distinct privilege to watch Christ at work in a community of five young gymnasts. As one struggled with fear to begin her floor routine, the other four cheered her on with full belief and faith in her. Finally, the nervous gymnast took to the floor and completed her routine. Immediately upon completion, her teammates ran up to her hugging her and encouraging her. The parents felt what was happening as was evident in their sighs of recognition of such compassion. I saw Christ in such a heartfelt connection between these gymnasts. And as for the one who battled fear, it was this individual challenge that provided the opportunity for love and compassion to become an outward display for other gymnasts, the coaches and judges, and every spectator. No one was blind to the beauty of that interaction - the way a handful of eight and nine-year-olds proclaimed the Good News of compassion and encouragement in their actions.

—

May we participate in the flock of God’s love with our words and actions, so we make glorify God’s presence in the world exuding the love that surpasses all understanding.

Amen.

[1] 1 John 3:18, NRSV.

[2] John 8:58, NRSV.

[3] John 9:3b, NRSV.