We all deal with something about ourselves that is less than perfect. Some flaw, some imperfection, that challenges us, and at times may perhaps be difficult to bear. Certainly, for the man born blind, there was much to be endured. He could not hold a regular job, he could not get around to all the places that perhaps he needed to go, at least not without difficulty, or perhaps assistance. On top of all that, he also had to deal with the fact that, in that society in that timeframe, it was assumed that either he or his parents must have done something awful that resulted in his being born blind. You see in that culture and time, most illnesses were not understood so much as physiological, but were instead attributed to retribution for offenses against God. This carried a heavy toll both internally in the way one perceived oneself, and externally in terms of a deep social stigma to be endured. The easily seen physical manifestations were, of course, the easiest to spot and nearly always resulted in judgement of the individual. Yet there are far more flaws that can exist in a person, than those that are readily apparent to physical observation. Our Lord made this very clear in his discussion with Samuel regarding who He would choose as his anointed one. Samuel could only see the stature of Eliab, but could not see his heart or mind, and so did not have the same image of him that our Lord possessed. With Gods insight he could truly evaluate Eliab in the ways that really matter and thereby know the true nature of the man. All the surface stuff, the lofty stature, the noble appearance, meant absolutely nothing.
If only we could be so observant, perhaps not so much about others since our senses are rather limited, but certainly about ourselves. We seem to sometimes spend far more time on our appearance, than truly taking stock of our situation within, really looking and evaluating at the level of our spirit. How have we been conducting ourselves toward others? How much time do we really spend with our Lord? Do we not only believe in Him but really trust in Him, to the point of being willing to let him take control and form us as He sees fit? Sometimes these are uncomfortable questions to ponder. And yet, these are the only ones that really matter, these are the ones we will ultimately be judged on.
We’re in the midst right now, of a rather unique opportunity. At the very least, our social calendars should be a bit freer of external activities, and in some instances, we may be downright isolated because of wanting to try to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. This can certainly leave us feeling uncertain, and even perhaps afraid, and yet, even in this situation, there is the possibility of producing something very positive. We have time available to us to spend in contemplation, to catch up on our relationship with God, that sometimes may otherwise take a backseat to our busy schedule. We can spend some time in discernment, figure out where we are falling short, and actually work toward fixing these areas. Our Lord is always willing to accept our efforts. Make no mistake, while we may not have chosen to have some of this extra time thrust upon us, if we make good use of it, He will receive our efforts with joy. In times like this, things can seem rather dark and bleak, yet we are a people who no longer walk in darkness because of the light of our Lord that we now dwell in. To all who put forth the effort to draw close to Jesus, He will take away our blindness, He will be pleased with what He sees within us, and He will give us light.
God Bless each one of you, stay safe, and be hopeful. Allow our Lord to take care of you, and take great comfort in His love for each of us.
The Deacons Bench 