Listening beyond presumptions

Prayer
Loving God, we have come learn from your word and let it change us. We have come to be refreshed by your presence and reminded that we are never far from you. Open our hearts to receive you, to get beyond our presumptions, and to reach out to others in love. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

Bible Story:  John 9:1-41

Messsage
Last Sunday I wondered if the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman would not have been better for the previous Sunday, as it was International Women’s Day, and this unnamed woman was the first female evangelist (first evangelist of any gender if we don’t include John the Baptist).  This week we are looking at the story of Jesus’ encounter with the man born blind, the perfect story for the time in which we live and the challenges we face.  In the story Jesus addresses one of the most perplexing questions of our existence.  Is there a connection between the perceived bad things that happen, between suffering, and our past actions or mistakes?  The author makes it very clear that this is the issue that Jesus is addressing by putting the very question into the mouths of the disciples, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (9:2)

Jesus response is also quite clear:  “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.” (9:3) Jesus clearly lets the discples know that their premise is wrong–there is no connection between this man’s past or his parent’s past and his current condtion.  There is no one to blame.

It is so clear, it’s there in black and white, there is no one to blame, and yet many Christians all over the world, throughout time like to play the blame game.  A natural disaster happens and invariably someone claiming to represent Jesus or God claims that it is God’s judgement on the nation because of some problem or issue that that individual has with his/her government or state.  The whole ministry of one church in the US is based on the idea that every death of every soldier or celebrity is God’s judgement on the nation because it is too caring about the rights of the LGBTQ community.  It that what Jesus said?

The blame game finds its way into some pretty basic doctrines of more traditional churches as well.  Some churches have spent many man hours coming up with lists of who and why people will be going to hell.  The lists then become weapons and part of a larger blame game to exercise control over others.  As we saw with the woman from Samaria, and with the man born blind, these lists are not in any of Jesus’ interests.

There is no one to blame, and while the lack of sight causes suffering, the problem itself is not evil.  In fact, it seems that in Jesus mind the morality of the problem is precisely in how those around him relate to the man born blind.  What is bad, or evil, is how those around him treated him, their attitude toward him.  How easy or hard did they make his life.  Whether or not they were doing what they could to effect healing.  For according to Jesus, when they did or when we do these helpful things we are living out the reign and wisdom of God, we are revealing God’s works, to use Jesus’ words.

So what does this mean in our context of the Covid-19 virus.  Well, in spite of what some politicians and religious leaders might want you to think, Covid-19 is not good or bad.  It is not a judgement of God.  It in of itself is neutral, neither evil or good.  Again a matter of perspective.  Yes, it causes suffering to humans, but it does not do so out of malice or on purpose.  It is simply living out its purpose, to infect, colonize and propogate.  If reports are true about China and Italy, while it has caused terrible suffering in human communities, it has also had the side effect of cleaner rivers and air, bringing back animal life that has been missing for many years.  Bad for humans, good for the environment.  (Some environmentalists, those especially who also like to play the blame game, have even made the claim that Covid-19 is nature’s judgement on humanity, for the evil we have perpetrated on creation.)  Covid-19 makes us sad and causes suffering, but it is just doing what viruses do.  There is no one to blame.

That is not to say that morality doesn’t have any role to play in our story.  Good or bad outcomes in terms of the effects of Covid-19 do have a role to play. Indeed, the question of moral good or evil comes in how we as humans react to the virus and its effects.  Moral good or evil comes into play when we look at how the choices we make with regard to the virus and people’s lives bring the reign or wisdom of God to life.  Do we allow our fellow men and women to suffer?  Do we stand aside and let “nature take its course.”  Do we waste precious time finding someone to blame?  Do we put up barriers to health?  Do we look for ways to better ourselves over, in spite of or at the expense of others?  Or do we look at ways of alleviating the suffering of others, as well as ourselves?  Do we love our neighbour as ourselves?  For it is in alleviating suffering, in protecting each other, in our governments seeking the best for all, that we reveal the work of God, the reign of God, the wisdom and love of God.  When we get beyond the blame game, when we get beyond wondering if there is something that we have done, we can get to our true purpose, doing whatever we can to show others what it means to be partners with God in lifting each other up, no matter what our circumstance and building a better world for all we find ourselves revealing the work of God.

Prayers
Loving, compassionate, embracing God. You sent Jesus into the world with a
new way of looking at life, and the lives of others.
Open me eyes and mind to understand the influences that make me see things in certain ways, whether it is the negative experiences of my past, how the world defines people through stereotypes, or cultural values.
As I begin to understand myself, help me, cleanse my eyes, cleanse my mind and heart.
So that as I look at the challenges that present themselves in life, I may be open to the positive possibilities that those challenges present based on how you see things, rather than how I am used to seeing things.  Help me to see how you can work, and be your partner in that work for others.

At this time I name and lift up those in my lives who need a touch of healing, a touch of comfort, a message of good news. …  Show me how I might be your presence in the lives of others.  Bless those who have chosen to keep us safe, and keep us going in the midst of these troubling times.  Grant us patience with ourselves and each other as we continue to practice social distancing.

Breathe new life, new understandings, new sight into all of us so that we might be as Jesus was, messengers of hope and love to all no matter their condition, their circumstances or beliefs.  Amen.

( Psalm 23 Adapted from the Good News Translation)
The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.
The Lord lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.
It is the Lord who gives me new strength and guides me on the right paths, as promised.
Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me.
Your shepherd’s rod and staff protect me.
You prepare a banquet for me, where all my enemies can see me; you welcome me as an honored guest and fill my cup to the brim.
I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life; and
your house will be my home as long as I live.  Amen.