Seeing Is Believing

Psalm 31 • Psalm 35
Job 19:1-7, 14-27 • Acts 13:13-25 • John 9:18-41

In the reading from today’s gospel lesson in John we learn that the Pharisees do not believe that Jesus has given sight to a blind man and they set out to find the man so they might drive him out.

Once found, and with the Pharisees within ear shot, Jesus tells the blind man he healed that God brought Jesus into the world not to condemn it, but to save it…to bring us out of darkness into light. Some of the Pharisees ironically ask, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus answers the Pharisees by saying, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

Jesus’ answer was a bit confusing for me at first. Especially when earlier in this chapter the blind man who has had his sight restored says, “…though I was blind, now I see.” 

The Book of Common Prayer defines sin as the seeking of our own will instead of the will of God, thus distorting our relationship with God, with other people, and with all creation.

I think what Jesus is saying here is that when we look beyond ourselves and our own will, we see our relationship with God, God’s people, and God’s creation more clearly; and through God’s grace, are not blinded by all the earthly distractions that distort our way to God. 

Whether being given the gift out of darkness into the Holy light of Christ’s love, or given the gift of becoming blind to the selfish distractions of ourselves and the temptations of the world that keep our sights off God, this is surely a testament to God’s miraculous healing power. 

Written by Kathy McGregor

Kathy is a grateful member of St. Paul’s, founder of the Prison Story Project, and a postulant for holy orders seeking ordination as a deacon.