Of Spit, Mud, and Miracles

Lectionary Reflection for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year A

March 30, 2014

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.” John 9:11

Could it really be that simple?  Jesus gives sight to a man blind from birth with just a little spit, some ordinary dirt, and a few words? It seems so improbable. In fact, the religious leaders, the disciples, and the man’s parents have real problems with the whole scenario. But not the man, who can now see clearly. He believes and worships Jesus. It seems to me that everybody but Jesus and the unnamed-but-now-sighted man misses the forest for the trees, so to speak, about this miracle.

It starts with a question of sin. Whose fault is it, ask the disciples, that this poor man is blind? There has to be someone to blame. Of course they’re asking the wrong question. It’s not about fault at all, but about God’s divine love, mercy, and grace. It’s about how Jesus is able to take our messes, our hurts, and our deficiencies, and using the most improbable methods he can make us whole and fit us for the work of discipleship and worship.

The religious leaders and authorities don’t believe that such a miracle could have occurred. Who heals a certifiable blind beggar using spit, dirt, and a few words? Why, that’s plain crazy and completely out of order. Only the God of Abraham is equipped to heal–not some renegade rabbi claiming to be God’s son. Even the man’s parents refuse to take a clear stand for fear they’ll be put out of the synagogue.

Today, 200 years later, Jesus is still in the business of miracles. He takes us, ordinary sinful, yet named and claimed disciples, and through water, word, bread, and wine equips us to be his people. He takes our humble gifts and multiples our meager offerings in ways that can’t be explained rationally.

Think about it. How can a small congregation band together to raise thousands of dollars to fight malaria or feed the hungry? How can a few committed Christians stand in the breach to bring about real change and hope to their sisters and brothers in despair? How can a few folks rally around a family facing a life-threatening illness and blanket them with love, prayers, meals, help, and comfort for each step of the journey? How does one chaplain help hundreds of prisoners experience God’s love, and how do a few students feed a huge homeless population through meager means and limited resources? Such miracles of hopeful grace happen every day when Jesus opens our eyes, blinded by fear, to get a glimpse of his glory.

Not sure it can work in your context? Do you fear nothing can open the eyes of your sisters and brothers to see the real presence of Christ in your midst? Why not step out in “blind faith” and give it a try? If Jesus can give sight to the sightless using only a little spit and mud, imagine the miracle he can work with your humble gifts. Don’t wait until you’re ready or have a successful stewardship drive. Wash the mud and spit from your eyes and experience the miracle of real vision.

In Worship

Why not sing a setting of the beloved Psalm 23 today? If you want something different from a chanted version, consider a setting of “The King of Love my Shepherd Is.” Click here for a lovely version posted on YouTube.

With Youth

God Sees the Heart

How do you choose a leader? It often seems that the most popular people are chosen to lead, or the best looking, or the ones with the most money, the right set of friends, or even the coolest car. Did you ever see the movie Napoleon Dynamite? In that quirky tale, Pedro is lifted up as a candidate for class president by the unlikely and totally geeky Napoleon–and he wins. One beautiful point the movie makes is that what we see on the surface doesn’t tell the whole story of a person’s substance and worth. In the story of David’s anointing as the future king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-13), God tells Samuel not to look on appearance or height because God does not see as mortals see. God looks on the heart.

How can we look on the heart of those we see and not be distracted or make assumptions based on appearances? Why should we be glad that when God looks on our hearts, the imprint of Jesus is already there?

With Children

You are Light

Would you rather be in the dark or in the light? Most children prefer to be where it’s light, and after a long winter we all prefer a bright, sunny day. In the epistle lesson from Ephesians, Paul says “For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light” (Eph. 5:8). So we were dark, but now we’re light. How does that happen? How can this be? And how do we live as children of the light? It will help to have either a small solar-powered light (fully charged) or a flashlight. Remind children that we are not light without Jesus. Show them the light source. Ask them if they know how it works? What happens when there is nothing to give a charge to the light–no sunlight or batteries? The light sources goes dark. So, too, without Jesus we grow dark. We need to be connected to our light source so that we can charge our spiritual batteries or solar cells and live as light. We also need to shine our Christ light into the dark places of this world so that all may see and know his love. Finish with a simple prayer.

Photos: Tony Alter, w00tdew00t, and Jeff Kubina, Creative Commons