Restoration

This week's gospel text is another long story from John - Jesus healing the blind man. The community noticed and challenged the healing of this man. With the restoration of his sight, he was also restored fully into the community. Why was that such an issue?

Change to the status quo is dangerous. Change is complicated - while we all dream of changes that we believe would make the world better, we also worry about changes that we can't control. We have insurance to try and give us some cushion against life's unknowns and yet often we also draw back from risks and from new challenges.

In this story we hear the Pharisees very looking into this matter. Calling yourself a disciple of Jesus could get you expelled from the Temple, so it would make sense that even the blind man's parents were hesitant to answer their questioning. What happened here and why? What does it mean?

In the world and in the church we have a lot of labels, a lot of plans, and a lot of processes that help us stay organized and teach about God's love to our members (and hopefully our communities and beyond!). We have ways we like to go about things and expectations - spoken or unspoken. Yet again in this story, Jesus defies our expectations, challenges our structures of who belongs where, and restores the sight and life to this man.

How are we restored by the radical love of God?

How are we called to see and restore the life of those pushed aside?

God's love is deeply personal and affirming of each of us at the core of who we are regardless of the labels we take on, or others give us. Furthermore, God's love is also deeply connectional as it not only restores me as a beloved child of God - God's love restores me in my relationships with my communities.

Go out and live a life restored - and seek the restoration of others.

Peace,

Deacon Erin