Taking Shape 5 March 2008

Mark 8:11-26
Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Now that we are two weeks away from Holy Week, a mere 18 days from the celebration of Resurrection Day, I for one am put in mind again of all that I hoped to accomplish spiritually during the Lenten season. The end of Lent is near, but how about all of those issues and needs I placed on the altar. Is anything taking shape?

The disciples in the text are their usual clueless selves. Jesus issues a blanket warning to avoid the contaminating influcence of the Pharisees and Herod, but they think he's talking about literal yeast and fear that he is angry because they forgot to bring bread with them. After reminding them that they have recently witnessed the feeding of multitudes with little or no resources, he asks them a question "Do you still not understand?" The disciples seem to be as blind as ever.

Enter a real blind man whom Jesus touches. Can you see now? Unlike other healing stories, for this blind man, things only gradually come into focus. He sees people but they look like trees. And while seeing people looking like walking trees represents a significant improvement over not seeing anything at all, it's not as good as seeing things as they really are. How does Jesus fix things? He touches the man again. The man looks intently and his sight is restored clearly.

I can say honestly that I am glad that the Lenten season is not quite over because I feel like that blind person in the story who sees some things taking shape but not clearly. I am grateful, then, that I have time to ask Jesus to touch me again.

Sing, "He Touched Me"

Let us pray:
Dear Lord, for the gift of growing focus and clarifying sight, we give you thanks. At the same time, we confess that we, like the disciples, still suffer from chronic cluelessness. Our only recourse is to ask that you in your mercy would touch us again. Apply the salve of your Spirit and anoint our minds, hearts, and spirits. Preserve us against the errors of religious and social arrogance. Deliver us into the next season of greater awareness, in Jesus' name. Amen