Today I was reviewing an old sermon that I delivered some years ago. I found the video on my YouTube channel (which I rarely visit) and realized that I had forgotten what the sermon was about, so I watched it. I am almost always fascinated by the fact that I like my sermons after a few years have passed more than the day I preach them. This particular text was from the gospel of John, 9:1-41. This scripture recounts a time when Jesus and his disciples come across a man blind from birth who sat in the middle of town begging for a living. The disciples ask Jesus the following question, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents?” Jesus bypasses the question and proceeds to heal the man by making clay out of dirt and his spit, putting it on the man’s eyes, and telling him to wash. After which the man is healed. Later, the man is taken to the authorities to determine if Jesus was acting from God’s power or not.
What struck me was the relevance to today’s society. Here we find a man who, by no fault of his own, was born blind, and because of his disability, was reduced to begging for a living. When the disciples see him, they do not try to help, but instead try to find fault for his situation. In other words, they are trying to transfer responsibility from themselves to either the man or someone else. Aren’t we doing that to our own downtrodden today? Are we not passing blame back and forth between parties other than ourselves? The republicans blame the democrats and vice versa, the president blames the congress and vice versa, Wall Street blames the OWSers and vice versa, yet no one claims responsibility.
Back to the scripture. The man that has just been healed is taken to the authorities to determine, not if he has been healed, but if the healing was LEGAL. Give me a break. The Pharisees completely ignore the miracle and go into debate over whether or not Jesus broke the law. Really? Someone does a deed of kindness and they are questioned as to whether or not that deed was within the law. Sound familiar?
Maybe we should stop looking for blame, passing responsibility, and checking the letter of the law, and just DO THE RIGHT THING!
Sorry for the rant, but I found it necessary to get it off my chest.
Peace
3 comments:
1. Wall street should claim "moral" responsibility for their actions. They won't; they don't; they will never. It really WAS Wall Street. It's not passing the buck: it's truth. Do your research.
2. I live in a neighborhood where blind people are NOT reduced to begging, and in fact would resent it. Minneapolis has lots of traffic features and even liberal disability payments for those in need. I would imagine this is following a Christian path. We are a very caring, liberal state, and I live in a very busy place in Minneapolis, where you would least expect it.
3. Screw the disciples. We act better than them. If nothing else, they are a lesson in how *not* to actually be a person.
4. You are completely right: do what is right. Of course, this is completely insane and weird, but yeah, do it. (why?) Well, because it just doesn't work that way. People are insane. People think bringing guns inside college classes is O.K.; blah blah blah. We, the insane, salute thee.
1. Who should be doing research?
2. Do you mean you wouldn't expect caring in Minneapolis, or in a liberal state? Have you affirmed that Minneapolis is a Christian-ethic city?
3. You should have posted "better than they". The second sentence has a split infinitive.
4. The first two sentences seem contradictory. The next two are just plain wrong.
Mark - I hope Renee is a good proof-reader. Run the post I just critiqued past her and see what *she* says. As always, ;-)
All very interesting, but not so much commenting on my post as commenting on the comments.Can we focus on my blog post?
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