Talking about discipleship and truly being a disciple are two very different things. It is easier to know what we should do than to carry out. Many saints from our tradition have had much to say about this struggle to do what they know they must do, and not do that which they know they shouldn’t. It is part of being human.
Without God, we have no chance to overcome this predicament. Without God, our actions can ring hollow, or often we are too immobilized to act at all. Without God, we suffer with blindness to the truth of what is important and eternal.
The story in John 9 of Jesus healing the blind man is about more than a physical healing and just one man. It is about how each of us can find healing of our blindness by turning to Jesus Christ. Are you someone that has been saying, “I don’t understand all this talk of discipleship and stewardship; what’s the big deal?” We all have a blindness that needs to be healed, and the body of Christ needs you so that God’s presence in our world can be seen in a more profound manner. The reality is that God heals the blindness of those who seek him so that, in turn, they may be vehicles by which others may see as well.
This Lent, you are invited to bring your blindness to Jesus. All the written reflections in the world will not give you new eyes. Those eyes can only be found in Jesus.
Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS
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