The "Normal" and the "New"
The Gospel reading for this Sunday is Jesus healing the man born blind found in the ninth chapter of John. This passage begins with a very important question: “Who sinned?” “Did this man sin or did his parents sin that he was born blind?” What is striking about this question is that these were the two options. It was a given that someone sinned, either the man sinned or his parents did, in order that such a horrible affliction would come to rest upon him.
Jesus’ reply is that no one sinned. Not the man. Not his parents. He was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him. Then Jesus anoints the man born blind with mud made from his own spit and sends him to the Pool of Siloam to wash, at which point he came back with his sight restored. Indeed God’s power is evident in the man and through this miraculous healing. The remainder of the passage focuses on the struggle between what is “normal” and what is “new.”
In the eyes of the Pharisees, Jesus has violated the Sabbath day, therefore he can not possibly be from God. The parents of the man are afraid of being removed from the synagogue if they say too much about this glorious healing. The man born blind, however, gives testimony to who Jesus is, challenges the “normal,” and follows Jesus when called.
It is not too big of a leap to apply this passage to our present life during this COVID-19 crisis. It’s easy to look around and say, “who sinned?” Not just because of the virus wreaking havoc in our world, but the infrastructure that surrounds combatting it. Who sinned that our healthcare system is unprepared? Who sinned that the quarantine was not announced sooner? Who sinned that I can’t get toilet paper? We can spend endless hours pointing fingers, shaming people on social media, and wringing our hands in worry. OR we can look for God to be glorified and for the wonder and power of God to shine forth. For the Kingdom of God is here and we are called to live fully into it, with love, faith, and hope.
I will be the first to admit that I am struggling with not meeting for worship. We come to the altar to receive the body and blood of Christ in order to be healed and abide in the presence of the Living God. We should approach boldly, without fear of sickness, to receive this free gift of God’s grace. But perhaps this is just the “normal” way. The comfortable way. Perhaps, God is looking to be glorified in a “new” way. Maybe we have become too focused on the sacrament of the Eucharist, and have neglected daily prayer, meditation, and Scripture reading. Maybe we take time to intercede for one another’s needs. Maybe we spend time praying for God to reveal to us those we should reach out to—and then follow through. Maybe we take on a new spiritual discipline to draw us nearer to God.
We are an Easter people. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, death and sin have been vanquished, and true life abounds in the peace and joy of the Living God. Our challenge is to live fully into this peace and joy in “new” ways, as presently the “normal” ways are temporarily unavailable to us. Who knows, maybe there will be a “new normal” that heightens and strengthens the Church as we know it… but it begins with seeking first the Kingdom of God…and all our other worries and concerns will take care of themselves. I invite you into this journey with me, as we find “new” ways together to worship and live lives where God is glorified through us.