May 6 - Who Sinned? Or Be Healed!

May 6 – Who Sinned? Or Be Healed!

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” (John 9:1-12)

Sometimes we forget what compassion is about because we’re so interested in figuring out why someone is in the situation they are in.  Is it their fault, someone else’s fault?  We are so focused on the punishment and blame-placing, that we forget there is someone hurting.  Sometimes God wants us to be a little more hands on with our care. 

One day a particularly pious parishioner had stopped by the house to chat with mom about some problems that were occurring in the church.  She wanted to ensure mom knew all the background behind the garbage, that she herself was not involved, but wanted to make sure it was all cleaned up.  Someone needed to be responsible and it wasn’t going to be her. 

As she prattled on and on about all of the various people involved in the situation, all of a sudden there was a terrible crash right outside our front door.  A car had hit a motorcycle and sent it skidding down the street.  It was a mess.  We all jumped up to look and before mom and I could react, the woman grabbed our hands and tried to pull us to our knees to pray.

I was stunned!  Praying while on the move was the appropriate reaction … not leaving the poor guy on the motorcycle out there bleeding and alone.  Mom was a little shook up, but managed to release me from the prayer so I could be practical.  I called 911 and ran outside with a blanket.  Within moments the street was filled with people to help, but that pious parishioner couldn’t involve herself with actual need … she could only manage gossip and do that from afar.

What is your response?  Do you worry about the issues behind the problem or just help deal with the problem and set aside the rest to worry about later.  Jesus didn’t want to discuss the stuff behind the man’s blindness.  He wanted to make it so the man could see.

And does anyone see the absolutely amazing confluence of His use of “I am the light of the world” and healing a man’s eyes so He could see?