Isaiah 42:14-21

Blindness Gives Way to Sight

I think it was last year that one of Peter and Nancy’s dogs got sick. I don’t remember what he had and he did get better but there was a strange lingering result. His sickness went away and along with it went the dog’s sight. All of a sudden, the dog could no longer see. It wasn’t as difficult a transition for the dog as anybody would have imagined though. He knew his way around the house and the yard such that he continues to maneuver himself quite well. He knows where the furniture sits and how many paces from one thing to the next. He gets around well enough that he might fool somebody into thinking that he actually sees, that is, until something is left where it shouldn’t be, a door is closed instead of open, or something is shifted. Then anybody watching will realize that their dog is blind.

Our readings today deal with blindness and sight, darkness and light. While not exactly the same concept, blindness and darkness should be looked at in similar fashion and likewise sight and light. For the one who is blind is in darkness and does not see light. But the one who sees is in the light and can see things as they are. The one who is blind may be able to maneuver through life like you do through your bedroom in the dark because they have figured out the lay of the land and know where earthing is located. But what happens when something is dropped in their path or the furniture is moved or the doors that usually are open are shut. Or what happens when something like Coronavirus comes along and the manner in which life used to be navigated is all of sudden disrupted and changed.

How does the spiritually blind person contend in such a world? Without faith in the one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, how does one stumble through among the obstacles of uncertainty, empty shelves, a collapsing economy, threat of job loss, severe illness and even death? Some choose the path of escape grabbing hold of whatever panacea gives them relief and the opportunity not to think about it. But all look to some god to lead them through the darkness. It could be government, or self, or a trusted friend. Some will turn to literal idols such as the metal images spoken of in our reading from Isaiah. Whenever things get tough, whenever life moves the furniture around, people turn to their gods but in that darkness, the way is not made easy, it is not even made passable by this images carved by hand and mind. The blind remain blind and those in darkness continue to stumble. They that thought they had the answers find themselves confounded.

How about the one that sees and is spiritually in the light? God promises to lead the blind and turn their darkness into light. In the Gospel reading today from John, we see that Jesus heals a man that was born blind. He heals the man’s eyes and we see how that man is led from spiritual darkness into the light of faith in Jesus as the Christ. In this light, we might not have better answers or more concrete solutions to the troubles of this age but we have faith in the One that has over come this age by facing every obstacle including death and yet never wavering in His trust of the Divine plan that brings light to this darkened world.

For you, as a Christian, who now walks in the light of the Gospel, who faces every trouble with a Savior at your side, you can see things as never before. You can behold what is hidden from the non-believer. You have hope for you know what lies beyond tomorrow. While the circumstances may not be known and the details unclear, you know that Jesus holds all authority in heaven and on earth and that the outcome is written. While we may not understand the purpose or the necessity of events and happenings, they do not happen apart from His will and they certainly work to serve His will. And His will is that you would, like the blind man of Jerusalem, believe and worship Him and thus receive the reward of sight, the forgiveness of your sins, life and salvation.

As Christ shines on us, we set aside hopelessness and worry, we are given a peace amidst trouble that those in darkness do not know, and the contrast between the darkness and light, the unbeliever and the Christian is made stark in times like these. For where the idol worshiper chases after his gods in futile pursuit of security, the Christian turns to His in prayer and worship, in Word and Sacrament, in confidence and hope and is not disappointed. In these the Light shines bright and the sight of His people is made all the more clear. Our full gathering together may be disrupted for a time, but this is no time to set aside devotion to the Word, the fellowship we share in a sacramental life of worship, or the privilege of calling upon our God in prayer and knowing that He hears and promises to deliver us for that sake of His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. He has turned darkness into light and has leveled the path for us from the blindness and sorrows of this world to the fullness of sight and the joys that are ours in heaven.