Journey to the Cross

Pause

In the forced solitude of waiting, lean into silence.

In the mindfulness of inhaling, exhale grace.

In the intentionality of washing your hands, feel God’s presence with you.

In the darkest valley, remember that Christ is the light of the world.

Listen

Jesus heard they had expelled the man born blind. Finding him, Jesus said, “Do you believe in the Human One?”

He answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.”

Jesus said, “You have seen him. In fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

The man said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshipped Jesus.

Jesus said, “I have come into the world to exercise judgment so that those who don’t see can see and those who see will become blind.”

Some Pharisees who were with him heard what he said and asked, “Surely we aren’t blind, are we?”

Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you wouldn’t have any sin, but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

John 9:35-41

Think

“Seeing is believing” is a fairly common saying. We like to have firsthand experience of something before we believe that it is true. But what next? Sometimes it just stops there. We see something, agree that it happened or is true, but we don’t do anything about it.

Jesus asks the man born blind what his response to all he has experienced is going to be. The man states his belief, but then he takes it a step further. He does something in response; he worships. He responds to his new understanding by putting it into action.

We, too, have had experiences that allow us to see things through the light of Jesus. We have seen and profess Christ’s love for all people. We witness that Christ has brought us all into God’s family, as brothers and sisters. But what next?

Do we get stuck, like the religious leaders in this story? Or do we put that which we have seen and experienced into practice? The spreading virus, the shut-down of society, the fear and isolation – all of these things could cause us to forget what we have seen and know to be true in Christ.

Today may our seeing lead to change in our hearts and action in our world.

Andrew Kellner

Pray

God, help me to do more than believe. Help me to be changed by seeing things through your light. Help this change in me to lead me to action in your service and mission. Amen.

Go

Open your eyes today to the light of God surrounding you.

Open your eyes today to the light of God within you.

Open your eyes today to the light of God in each person you meet.

Open your eyes today, and see all that God has for you to see.