“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

“Big Wig”

A big wig is generally thought of nowadays to be a person of high repute, a wheeler and dealer, or someone who is a prominent leader. So, where did this phrase some from?

Back in the day, men and women used to only take baths twice a year (as bad as that sounds). Women would cover their hair so it didn’t get as dirty. Men would shave their heads and wear wigs. Their wigs were not washable, so they would hollow out a loaf of bread, place the wig inside and bake it. This would kill any lice or bugs in the wig. The wig would come out big and fluffy due to the moisture and heat inside the loaf of bread. This is how the term “big wig” came into existence. Also interesting side-note is that the term “to pull the wool over someone’s eyes”, which we know means trying to fool someone, came into existence because it was referencing pulling a man’s wig over his eyes, in effect, blinding him to what you did not want him to see.

The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector is one of my favorites. It brings to light the difference of someone who lives with true humility and someone who lives within the height of hubris. Jesus says: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Why some people see themselves as more righteous, more faithful, and closer to G-d than others is part of the human existence. There will always be people who see themselves as “better”. Jesus asks us to humble ourselves, and to take the last seat rather than the seat of honor. We should live in a manner where Jesus will be the one to call us higher – not our own hubris. It is a different way of thinking, of living, and of being.

Pastor Dave

“As he 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?” 11 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.” John 9:1-11

“Turn a blind eye”

To “turn a blind eye” to something means to pretend not to have noticed it.

The origins of this expression is said to have arisen from the famous English naval hero Admiral Horatio Nelson. It is told that during the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, he is alleged to have deliberately raised his telescope to his blind eye, thus ensuring that he would not see any signal from his superior giving him discretion to withdraw from the battle.

As Jesus and his disciples walked along the path one day, they noticed a man who was blind. It was a natural understanding in their day that someone born with a disability was paying for the sins of others – or the sins of a previous life. I like how Jesus often answers the questions from his disciples, for Jesus seems to “turn a blind eye” toward their cultural understandings. Jesus turned a blind eye toward the admonition not to touch lepers. He turned a blind eye toward healing on the Sabbath. He turned a blind eye toward ministering to women – even welcoming them as disciples.

There is a lot in our society that we can turn a blind eye toward – but we should not be turning a blind eye toward ministry to the last, lost, least, and little in our community. Too often people with disabilities or people who are not like us are invisible to us. It takes a real concerted effort to always be aware of those we are most likely to miss, to ignore, or to see as unworthy of our time. Jesus died for these people too…….

Pastor Dave