Children’s Story: Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
The seven differently coloured blind mice go out one by one to investigate the strange Something (an elephant) by the pond, but each comes back with a different idea of what it is.
Introduction to the Gospel
At first sight, you might think this morning’s gospel story is about a healing – the healing of a blind man. But a closer look seems to point us into a much more expansive view – perhaps even to a totally different vista. It’s a long reading. Out of the forty-one verses, only two describe the actual healing. By far the majority of the chapter is about conflicting views – disputes, arguments and misunderstandings. The scene is set, right from the very first verse, where Jesus and his disciples encounter a man who had never been able to see; a man who had been born blind – someone to whom Jesus was able to bring sight – not just physical sight, but a breadth of view, much greater than what others around him could see. As we are taken through these forty-one verses of questions, heated discussion and differences of opinion, which are as relevant today as they were two-thousand years ago, a picture unfolds – a picture of one considered of no account entering into a life-changing relationship with Jesus. As we listen and watch the unfolding scene, we too are invited into an encounter with the living God, where our eyes might also be opened.
So let’s approach this gospel reading with the acknowledgement that our way of seeing may not be all that it might be – that we too may need healing.
Dramatic Reading of John 9:1-41
Hymn: “Teach us, O loving heart of Christ” words Shirley Murray Alleluia Aotearoa
Sermon/Reflection
As we all know, the Gospel of John is a sophisticated theological reflection on the life of Jesus. While it is likely that the reading, as we now have it, could be based on an actual healing story, there are many more layers to be uncovered and explored. Seeing this reading as a simple healing story is like a blue mouse encountering an elephant’s tail and assuming the elephant is a rope.[1] The tail/tale is there – but, if we do not expand our sight/site, we will see only distortion.
And so, as the writer, whom we know as John, reflects on the life and ministry of Jesus, he invites us into a theological exploration that takes us – we who are disciples, teachers, relatives and religious leaders – taking all of us into a place where our eyes might be opened, so that we too can see in a radically new way.
The scene is set with a simple encounter between Jesus and a man born blind. And the disciples, the eager students and followers of Jesus turn to their teacher, seeking to bring what they have learned to their ongoing education. So, they ask Jesus, “who sinned?” There had to be a reason - someone had to have caused the blindness – was it the man himself, or his parents? Who was at fault? Somehow the pain of disability, disease or death has to be someone’s fault – doesn’t it – or does it? Isn’t this the question lying beneath so much stumbling in the darkness of our lives? Who can we blame? Whose fault is it? And, the unspoken question, often underlying the fault seeking, is the question of divine punishment. For, who caused that fault? If the man’s – or his parents’ – sin had caused his blindness, then it was God who punished.
Even in our so-called secular world, this kind of question emerges time and again. Sometimes hidden within assumptions and sometimes blatantly spelt out. I heard it at the meeting of our church General Assembly last year in Christchurch. It was only a matter of weeks after the first earthquake. In prayer as well as public and private comment, the language of God’s protection of Christchurch featured. “No people died in Christchurch because God particularly blesses us” people were heard to say. When challenged about the thousands of deaths in the Haiti earthquake, the one who was speaking was quick to explain that the people of Haiti were wicked – the infidel – and God had punished them. (Since more recent events in Christchurch, his mind may have been changed). What an appalling interpretation and aberration of a loving God!
“Who sinned?” Jesus’ disciples asked. “Wrong question” Jesus replies. “Rather, look to see how God’s light is shining.
Whether we ask “Who sinned?” or the question lying beneath: “how could God take the lives of innocent people?” we too are asking the wrong question.
Wrong questions and limited perspectives pile one on top of the other. Neighbours – and even parents of the blind man – can’t quite get their minds around his transformation that is of elephant-like-proportions! Their scepticism and suspicion assume people can’t change – that miracles never happen – that rational explanations are the only way to understand the totality of life. How blind they are!
Have you been there? I know I have ....
Of course, the best is kept till last. It’s the professional clergy – the religious leaders – who are completely on the wrong foot. Again, as is so often the case in Jesus’ stories, those who come from the religious establishment, those who one might reasonably expect to provide healing and wholeness, are the ones who cause the most harm. It’s enough to make any minister stop in her tracks! For it’s the clergy who refuse to believe what others tell them of miracles. They’re more concerned about correct belief and ritual “than to love a human being and rejoice in his wholeness. They blabbered pious clichés.” And, just as they will to Jesus in the days leading to crucifixion, “they scapegoated the victim and ‘hurled insults’ at him. They condescendingly claim a spiritual elitism that intentionally humiliates. They demonize him as a ‘sinner’. As they throw him out of the synagogue their rage explodes, ‘How dare you lecture us!’ [And] With that, their own tragic blindness is confirmed.”[2]
So often we get things terribly wrong ... so often we are blinded by our own self-righteousness ... so often our understanding of God is mouse-like in its perspective – so often we forget to see others – and ourselves – as God does. How difficult it is to perceive the wider vision of God’s kin-dom, about which Jesus taught and the psalmist speaks – where there are righteous paths, genuine comfort, and abundant hospitality for all. But surely, the first step in being able to do this is to acknowledge we don’t have all the answers – that we could be wrong. From this perspective, we might be open to learn from each other– each of us with our limited viewpoint – filtered by who we are, whether we come from a red, blue, green, yellow or purple perspective – seeking a bigger picture – a more expansive understanding of what it means to be the people of God. And above all, may it be that as we ask our questions, debate our understandings, we may experience the transforming miraculous vision of the true Light of the world and so participate in bringing about the amazing possibilities of God’s kin-dom here on Earth.
Affirmation of Faith
The hymn after the affirmation of faith is an invitation to conversation, as we seek a broader vision in the midst of overwhelming pain. We sing it today particularly in memory of 16 year old Chloe Anson, who died a week ago. We are tempted to ask why such a vital young woman should die so suddenly – but we hear the echoes of Jesus’ voice and vision and recognise this is not the question to ask. So we sing from another perspective, one which might shed light on a bigger picture. In this hymn, we hold Chloe and all who loved her, in the holy mystery of Love – that which we call God.
But, first, we affirm
We are not alone – I invite those who are able to stand.
Hymn: Nothing is lost on the breath of God;
words and music by Colin Gibson Faith forever singing
[1] Reference to the story read to the children earlier in the service Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
[2] Daniel B. Clendenin www.journeywithjesus.net – tense changed
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