Darkness & Sight

2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:2-5)

When Jesus healed an unnamed man who had been born blind, he broke down some established barriers to wholeness. First, by declaring that sin did not cause the man's disability, then by expressing that this man, who had been in physical "darkness", actually had better "sight" than those whose eyes were healthy, Jesus turned upside down the expectations and cultural understandings of his day. The blind man was unconcerned with what religious traditions Jesus broke when healing him. He understood Jesus to be a prophet from God. The Pharisees, however, could not see that God might do something outside of, or beyond, their understanding.

When we live into our calling to embody the Light - reflecting the light of Christ - we will see, illuminated, the dark places within ourselves and the world. We then have a choice to make. We can close our eyes to the mess that's revealed, feeling threatened, choosing the perceived safety of the dark. Or we can humbly submit to the brightness of the Light - allowing God to remove the things we don't need (things that may have, once, been necessary or helpful). By God's grace, we are children of the light. May we shine bright.

8 For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light- 9 for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. 10 Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. (Ephesians 5:8-11)