Sin and Sight

This week I have been wondering about the way people try to name us, and put us into neat boxes. Last week, we heard about the transformation of a woman who was an outsider in so many ways. Transformed because she was accepted as she was. Loved and renewed.

This week I have also completed my annual report for Presbytery. It is 12 pages of tables and questions – how many worship services each week, how many baptisms, am I up to date with safe church training, what continuing education have I done……    

This week we also saw on the news about the attack in London. People wanted to know is it terrorism or something else. Can we put a label on this incident?

Once we have a label, we think we know what is going on.
Once we have a label, we know where to file the information in our brains.
All we need is a label.

The thing with labels is that often we allow other people to label us.
And we label other people:

-           Druggie

-           Dole bludger

-           Nerd

-           Redneck

-           Do-gooder

-           Idiot

And labels are rarely positive.

In our story this morning, the art teacher expects a certain picture, but Luke sees the world differently.  The teacher says: “why do you do this, what’s wrong with you boy?”

Just because something is different doesn’t mean it is wrong.

In the gospel readings for the past 2 weeks, we have heard about encounters with Jesus, firstly Nicodemus, then the woman at the well. In today’s gospel reading we also read about an encounter between a person and Jesus. But in this meeting, the two men barely speak to each other. Most of the story is about the reaction of others.

The gospel reading this morning also asks about sin:
whose sin caused the man to be born blind?
Is Jesus a sinner for healing on the Sabbath?
How could someone who is a sinner work such a miracle?”
The Pharisees tell the man: “You have been a sinner since the day you were born! Do you think you can teach us anything?”

If I have a label on like this [paper plate with sinner in large writing over my face] what else do you notice about me?
Would you listen to me?
Would you help me across the road?

In this mask, I cannot see.
I cannot see other people,
or the world around me,
but I also cannot see myself.

The gospel starts with asking about sin, and there is a thread about sin woven through this passage. When we think of sin as something that is easily defined - such as questioning authority or working on the Sabbath; we can begin to think more about rules than about people.

Jesus saw the person who was begging,
he didn’t see the result of sin,
he saw a person.
A person who needed healing,
who needed to be made whole,
a person who was a social and religious outcast.

When we look at the healing miracles in the Gospel,
we see inclusion and compassion.

There is another thread running through the readings today, it is about sight and seeing.

How would you choose a king?
 - The tallest?
 - Strongest?
 - Best looking?
 - Brightest?

Saul was King, yet he no followed in God’s ways, so it was time to anoint a new king.
The prophet Samuel, does as he is told, he goes to Bethlehem and meets with Jesse and his sons.
And in turn, Samuel asks God if this is the one.
And each time God says no.
David, the youngest is called in from minding the sheep, and is anointed. David will become the king.

God told Samuel: People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts.

When choosing a leader, we have expectations, but God sees us differently, God looks at our hearts, not our bank balance or our body mass index.

I wonder if the sin in this story,
is the sin of not seeing and valuing ourselves,
and others, as God sees and values us.