Light of the World

As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 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.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.” John 9:1-17

When we lived in Sitka, Alaska, there were ravens everywhere. They were fun to watch. I was fascinated how they worked together, chatting the whole time, getting the large city trach cans open. Native folks in that part of the world have many stories of the ravens, including the story of how the raven stole the sun. It is not a tale from my tradition, but it highlights the mischievous nature of the birds, and even more so, the mischievous nature of humans. In our jealousy and lack, we often want to steal the light other's have. We want the healing for ourselves and it makes us jealous and anfry.

Loving Creator, source of all good gifts

you make a blind man whole by  your touch

you calmed seas and fed the great crowds

yet some would ridicule and criticize you.

We are your followers as frail as all people

we covet what others have, want their gifts

and fail to see the shower of light upon us.

Send us your light today and bring us healing

let us carry your light to the world today. Amen.