I recently reread the following in an article/ sermon by Mickey Anders (Asking the Wrong Questions) relating to the gospel.

When a group of tourists saw a legless war veteran go to the Shrine of Lourdes, they whispered and laughed, “Does he suppose God will give him back his legs?” The veteran overheard this remark. Turning to the group, he said, “No, I don’t expect God to give me back my legs. I expect him to show me how to live without them.” Perhaps if we just asked the right questions, we would discover that God is not in the business of bringing pain and suffering into our lives. Rather God gives strength to live even in the midst of the worst kinds of suffering.

This I believe to be true… and it is a wonderful response to those who would question the existence of God, or who believe God is a God of anger and judgment.

In the gospel for this week we will look at the many reactions to the story of the man who was born blind and received sight from Jesus on the Sabbath. Jesus uses the act of spitting, usually a sign of disdain for blind people, to instead heal the blind man. Each of the players in the story – blind man; Pharisees; parents of the blind man; neighbours; and Jesus have different views perspectives on this simple story.

Which character in the story do you most identify with? Have you had a time when you saw with the heart and acted like the blind man recognizing the miracle and the healing acts of God in your life? Did you share it with others?

Prayer: May we learn to look past the obvious, the expected, the traditional and the acceptable, and begin to recognize the new and the fresh ways you are at work in us, in our neighbour, and in the world. Amen.