In the eye of the beholder

Some words… and then a little Lenten exercise.

“See, this is how it is.”  “The way I see it.” “See, this is what I mean.” “I see what you mean.” “Seeing is believing.”

In this age of 3-D perception, big screen high-definition pictures, and Lasik to correct our vision, sight – our ability to see things clearly -- is as important as ever.  But, are we focusing our sights on the right things? Do we see and perceive things as Jesus wants us to?

How often do we blindly trust what we see at first glance? Are our eyes deceived by technological clarity and human-made visions? When we focus on laws and rules more than on love and grace, what is it that we miss seeing?  

How does God behold us? How might we perceive things differently if we see as Jesus intends us to?

Is not the good news that 1. God seeks us out and that 2. Christ helps us see anew?

1.    Thankfully, God seeks us out – chases after us – even when we’re not looking. Why?  Because God sees in us what is blessed already and yearns for us to see it too… and to act on this blessedness.

Take, for instance, what we’ve heard in both the older and newer testaments this morning. 

In the case of the calling of David, we have a story about God seeking out a faithfulness and righteousness that others have failed to see while they’ve been distracted by outward appearances.  Rather than pick the ‘obvious’ winners, those who are of greater physical stature, God seeks out not what can be seen by the eyes, but what is seen through the heart.  A good shepherd shall become an earthly king.

In the case of the blind man, we have a story about Jesus twice reaching out, challenging our perceptions of what is right in front of us and redirecting our vision.  Christ, our heavenly king, leads us as a good shepherd.

First, when the disciples note from a distance a blind man and immediately begin seeking to rationalize his condition and attribute blame from sin, Jesus rebukes their faulty casual reasoning, closes the distance, and gets his hands dirty to help the man. He seeks out this opportunity to demonstrate healing mercy… before he’s asked and even before the recipient of that mercy fully understands what has happened.

Second, when authorities, including the man’s own parents, focus on judgment, fear, and anxiety about interpretations and adherence to ‘the law’ as they’ve understood it, that only leads to divisions among them and they drive out the very evidence of grace in their midst.  Jesus avoids this spiral of sinful obsession, points out that their presumptions will continue to obscure their vision of the kingdom, and, instead, seeks out the formerly blind man to restore his vision even more fully.

In the case of Psalm 23 (a Psalm of David, a shepherd himself, calling God a shepherd) we have the familiar song of God’s comfort and companionship during life’s trials… but we also should note the Hebrew word for ‘follow’ ( רָדַף  radaph) in the phrase “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” (Psalm 23:6).  ‘Follow’ is a rather passive way of seeing what might be meant here.  As seen in other translations, that word can also be translated as ‘pursue’ or ‘chase.’   And the words translated as “goodness” (טוֹב tob) and “mercy” (חֶסֶד chesed) can also be rendered as ‘beauty’ or ‘cheerfulness’ and ‘devotional and unchanging love’.

So, what are we able to see about the vision of God’s relationship with us if we read this as, “surely God’s goodness, beauty, cheerfulness, devotional mercy and unchanging love chases after us, pursues us, all the days of our lives”?

Even when we’re not looking; even when we fail to see what’s really happening because we’re obsessed with our preconceptions; even before we’ve confessed, repented or sought forgiveness, God seeks us out – chases after opportunities to demonstrate mercy and love.  This good news!

Christ Heals the Blind Man (El Greco)

2. When our eyes are opened through acts of mercy and love, what is it that we can see anew? And, how does this clarity of vision change how we treat ourselves and our neighbors?

In the case of the calling of David, perhaps we’re to see that our initial judgments about who is worthy of our consideration and who is called to leadership might be in haste and based on outward appearances more than inward potential as seen through God’s eyes.

In the case of the blind man, perhaps we’re to see that when we notice people who are disadvantaged or pushed aside, rather than focus on blame for their condition or debate the rationale for why or why not they deserve it, we’re called to serve as Christ – to reach out, getting our hands dirty, and pursue healing through mercy and love.

In the case of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, it’s pretty clear that he’s writing to help them see how God, through Christ, is constantly seeking to repair what has been broken – how God perceives the walls that separate us needing to be torn down and bridges built that will reestablish connection between us. Paul implores the Ephesians (and us) to not dwell in darkness, but to “live as children of light”, shining the God-given grace within us towards all dark places; and to “find out what is pleasing to the Lord”; continually challenging our preconceptions by striving to see ourselves and others through God’s illuminating eyes.

In the Gospel story of the blind man, notice that the blind man hears Jesus before he can clearly see him.  If we listen to it carefully, what can our heart, in which we’re told is the Word of God, help us perceive even before our eyes are fully opened?

I invite you now to indulge with me in a little Lenten exercise to close the this morning’s homily.

Close your eyes and sit in silence for a moment.

Without being distracted by the outward appearances any more, what images emerge first in your mind’s eye when asked these questions – let them come into view and don’t judge them:

1. When have you felt overlooked, misunderstood, or blamed for your own condition?

2. What darkness in your life, or the life of someone you love, yearns for light?

3. Is there a situation you know of today in which people seem to be blind to the goodness or beauty right in front of them?

Now, imagine and see our good shepherd walking along with you. 

1. What does he notice first before anyone else?

2. What does it look like when he reaches out to touch the people in the situation? 

3. What is it in yourself that he is helping you see right now?

4. What are you called to do with God’s mercy and love?

The good news this morning is that God’s goodness, beauty, cheerfulness, devotional mercy and unchanging love chases after us – Christ pursues us, all the days of our lives. In like manner, we are to “live as children of light” and to pursue “what is pleasing to the Lord”

AMEN.