Lord, I Believe

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out.

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he." He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him. Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains." John 9:18-41 

Years ago, the city of Baltimore took on a campaign of revitalization. B'lieve or Be'lieve Hon was the slogan. In the unique accent and culture of the city, the people were trying to move beyond crime and desperation to find hope  and new life around them. Slogans are easy, real belief which motivates real actions is a true gift. It is to wake up every morning grateful and expecting a miracle. It is seeing the truth in a tough situation and trusting that God has your back, and that there is more than the stuck place we might be in.

The blind man that Jesus healed is on the hot seat, as well as his family. He gets thrown out of the temple for simply being grateful for his sight. He can see much more than the religious leaders. They have lived their lives so long by rules and power, that the true gift of faith has eluded them. To really have faith is a letting go of control. God invites us today to let go a little so that we might receive a new depth of faith, a miracle or two in the making.

Today I ask God to deepen my faith. May we see the world for what it is and open our hearts to the miracles around us. May we trust that God has our back and serve the people we meet today with hope and expectation.