19 February 2020 - that we might see

Today's Readings

(Audio)

Sometimes we receive our sight all at once like Paul. The scales fall from our eyes and we're good to go. Other times healing comes more gradually.

Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked,
“Do you see anything?”
Looking up the man replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.”

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer,
he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror.
He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets
what he looked like.

We recognize that we have not been fully healed when we see vaguely or fleetingly. We know the shapes don't match reality. We remember knowing what we looked like, the true shape of our identity and purpose, but can't remember now. If we set out on the road in this condition we will be a danger to others and especially to ourselves. These partial healings mean that we need to invite the LORD deeper into our hearts. We need to welcome him with ever greater humility.

Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess
and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you
and is able to save your souls.

The word can truly open our eyes to the vision that God has for us and for the world. But it is not something that we can just hear and then forget. It must shape our identities so much that when we look into the mirror it is the truth of the word about us that we see. It must so shape our understanding of life in the world that we can't imagine navigating that life without it.

Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly;
his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly.

Jesus doesn't want us to be satisfied with partial sight. He asks us, like the man he healed, what we see. He asks us this because he wants to break through any resistance on our parts to truly open the eyes of our hearts. He keeps asking until we either run from him or allow him to open our eyes. His word makes our hearts pure. It is the pure of heart who see God.

He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.