“They came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man, and begged him to touch him. And Jesus took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men; but they look like trees, walking.” Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and saw everything clearly.” Mark 8:22-25

“As elsewhere indicated, blindness is a symbol of lost spiritual vision… For the blind man, faith is made strong by the touch of Jesus who moistens the eyes and lays his hands on him, and then asks: “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see men; but they look like trees walking.” Sight was only partially restored, possibly because his faith was still imperfect. “Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes, and he saw everything clearly.” This case of gradual cure is absolutely unique in the gospel story. No explanation is given as to the reason, and none as to the purpose of Jesus; but in the experience of his disciples similar examples are by no means uncommon. Many follow Christ for a time and know something of his healing power, who afterwards come to a crisis in their religious experience and seem to receive a new touch from the Master and henceforth to see divine realities with clearer vision. We are to conclude that the methods of our Lord in effecting cures were not always the same, and that the spiritual experiences of modern Christians are not always alike.” (Charles R. Erdman (1866-1960) “For All The Saints” volume III.)

There is a saying that goes like this: “It is always darkest before the dawn.” I find this analogy true for my faith understanding. Before my faith had its current form, there were many dark days — dark in terms of my faith understanding. I would wander this way and that way, like a blind person without any assistance. Occasionally there might be some sight, and insight, but often my sight was blinded by other things, and my insight was cloudy. What helped to bring clearer vision was the Holy Spirit that came to me in waves, in words, in wanderings, and in water (as in my baptism, but that comes later in my devotion).

I like Charles Erdman’s description in the odd healing of the blind man – that his doubled healing represents the fact that not every person learns and is impacted by the Holy Spirit in the same way. Some have a cloudy vision. Some think they see, but their vision is just a little off. But through our baptism, we have been chosen by G-d as children of G-d — and have been infused with the Holy Spirit. It is that same Holy Spirit that will help us with our spiritual vision, and our faith understanding – and just like the blind man, Jesus will not give up on us.

Pastor Dave

“Is nothing certain but the uncertain wandering of chance which goes this way and that, and do the affairs of mortals have an ending?” Lucan “Cicero” “For All The Saints” volume I p. 905

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as King and deal wisely, and shall execute justice.” Jeremiah 23:1-8

I often think about the idea of divine “providence” versus chance. How do we discern the difference in our lives? When does a chance encounter move from “Karma” to “G-d ordained”? That is the million dollar question for most people. It is the ten-thousand-dollar question for those of us in the church because the ways of G-d often remain a mystery — but we also trust that G-d will act — and G-d does act — with purpose. The answer comes in how we lead our lives — whether we live thinking our faith leads to naught — or living and trusting that our faith is the glue that holds everything together. This is what Philip Melanchthon had to say:

“The mind of Cicero was overwhelmed with doubt about providence, because he did not know the promises of God, and he doubted that he and others were heard or helped when they prayed, especially in times of calamities in which they felt that they were deserted by an angry God.”

Contrasted against Cicero is Jeremiah, who overcomes doubts and with great confidence believes that G-d will act in history, will act in his life, and so Jeremiah waits with patience for that outcome. “The days are surely coming, when the Lord will raise up a righteous Branch,” he says. And Jeremiah also says, “The Lord is our righteousness.” Those are statements of someone who believes that G-d will act in his life — that G-d promises and so G-d will come through.

In this season of Advent, we all can do some serious assessing: do we live as if we know and trust G-d will act — as if we hope G-d will act — or as if we doubt G-d will act? It is when we trust and have confidence that G-d is active in our lives that we are made more aware of those moments and know that they are not due to good Karma, but the gracious actions of our heavenly Father through the son Jesus Christ, sustained by the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Dave