Tonight, we are considering Sunday's gospel - Jesus healing a blind man in John chapter 9. We're reading verses 1-12 and glossing over all the theological minefields that question whose sin caused the man to be blind and, instead, asking a more basic but perhaps more profound question: What hinders us from seeing? And - what would allow us to gain a different perspective?
Lent is a time for digging ourselves out of the ruts in which we've become entrenched so that we can encounter God and the world around us in a whole new way.
I've had lots of fun sourcing tonight's Lenten symbol - teeny, tiny eye glasses designed for dolls. We will carry them with us in the week ahead to remind us to take another look at all that God reveals.
Amazing image~I saw a frog, a horse's head, then saw it drowning and believe it or not I saw a hen, too!!
ReplyDeleteLooking from a different perspective takes a good deal of imagination in some cases and empathy in others. In fact it is quite a challenge that you have set!
If we think of human behaviour, of say, an angry person, or a drunk person,(sounds like labelling!) if we knew that person's story, what trauma and turmoil perhaps lay behind the behaviour rather than wickedness or self-indulgence, would we be able to see and understand them differently and offer compassion rather than ridicule?
Jesus, King of compassion, wipe the scales from our eyes and help us to see you in all your Glory, and follow you more closely this Lenten tide.
Blessings on your service tonight!