The Struggle to See

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Proper 29, the week of the last Sunday after Pentecost

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:

31 Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. 33After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.’ 34But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. . . . .

35 As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 995)

AM Psalm [120], 121, 122, 123; PM Psalm 124, 125, 126, [127]

Zech. 11:4-17; 1 Cor. 3:10-23; Luke 18:31-43

Today we celebrate the Feast of Isaac Watts. (See below.)

David's Reflections

This Gospel reading presents two stories.  In the first, Jesus predicts to his followers his impending rejection and death, which meets with puzzlement and lack of understanding from his followers. It is as if the outcome he expected to his public ministry was so foreign to his followers that they simply could not take it in. Or, was it that they were not allowed to see it (note verse 34).

This is not the only instance of this sort of “unseeing” in Luke.  In Luke 24, after the resurrection, Jesus appears to a couple who are disciples returning home from Jerusalem. They are feeling despair about Jesus’ death, but Luke 24:16 says their eyes were “held” so that they could not recognize Jesus.  In that case, as here, Jesus reveals himself without revealing himself. In our Gospel, he speaks to people who could not grasp his words. In Luke 24, he walks with people who do not recognize him.

Are we to believe that Jesus actually was concealing himself while revealing himself? It seems so. God, Son and Spirit seek to engage in a personal relationship with us. Everything God has done—from Genesis to Abraham to David to the prophets to John the Baptist to Jesus to the writing of the New Testament documents to the birth and mission of the church—has been an effort to disclose Godself to us and call us into relationship with the divine.

However, we share the plight of Jesus’ followers. We grapple against inner blindness and the inability to comprehend. And, as they often did, we resist and struggle against the light. We are a bit like hikers along trails at the Grand Canyon.  The vistas, so broad, colorful, and complex, stretch beyond our eyes' ability to comprehend and reach deeper than our eyes can follow. Our spiritual eyes need corrective lenses and, even our corrected vision has limits.

Every disclosure of God is wrapped in hiddenness. As Isaiah said, "You are a God who hides yourself." Were God to disclose God’s nature and being totally, we would be like folks overexposed to the sun--it would be more than our "soul complexion" could withstand. The way Jesus taught gives us an example of veiled light and measured disclosure. He would offer a parable that puzzled and intrigued and called forth further inquiry. Those who sought for more light received it, but never at such a level of disclosure that the need for faith and inquiry was removed.

Also, God repeats! This passage contains the third prediction of Jesus’  death/resurrection (See Luke 9 for the first two). The disciples responded to each with a different type of misunderstanding, but the disclosures kept coming. When I have an "aha" moment, an epiphany in which I see God, the world, others, and myself with a fresh clarity, that epiphany will not usually have come on the first pass. I probably will not be aware of all the instances of God's having given me repeated exposure to the light.

Hence, the story of the blind man (We learn his name, Bartimaeus, in Matthew’s and Mark’s accounts.) He sat beside the highway outside Jericho, hoping for money from others because of his disability. He once had seen, as his request shows.  'Lord, that I might see again.”  Jesus obviously wanted him to see again, but he asked what he wanted him to do.

Luke has this blind man stand for all of us, his readers; hence, he placed the story about the disciples and their inability to comprehend Jesus' words right before the healing of his. blindness. Can you imagine Jesus passing your place of powerlessness and hearing your silent, inner groanings of despair? Can you imagine his stopping, focusing on you, and asking what you want him to do? Would you say, "Lord, that I might see again.”?  That I might really see--you, God, myself, others--in a  way that liberates me from  darkness and fear and empowers me to trust in you for healing and deliverance.

Antonio Machado's short poem comes to mind.

   Beyond living and dreaming

there is something more important!

waking up. *

* From "Forty Poems, Antonio Machado, Times Alone:  Selected Poems of Antonio Machado, trans. Robert Bly ( Hanover, NH:  Wesleyan UP, 1983), pp. 143-153.

Collect of the Day, Proper 29, the week of the last Sunday after Pentecost

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and en http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/cslewis.htm slaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP, 236)

Today we celebrate the Feast of Isaac Watts, hymn writer (died 25 Nov 1748 CE).

http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/isaac_watts.htm

Collect of the Feast of Isaac Watts

God of truth and grace, you gave Isaac Watts singular gifts to present your praise in verse, that he might write psalms, hymns and spiritual songs for your Church: Give us grace joyfully to sing your praises now and in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Peace

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. (BCP, 99)

For Vocation in Daily Work

Almighty God our heavenly Father, you declare your glory and show forth your handiwork in the heavens and in the earth: Deliver us in our various occupations from the service of self alone, that we may do the work you give us to do in truth and beauty and for the common good; for the sake of him who came among us as one who serves, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 261)

A Prayer for Light

Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified:  Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.  (BCP, 100)

Daily Office Reading, Luke 18:31-43

31 Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. 33After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.’ 34But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

35 As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ 38Then he shouted, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ 39Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ 40Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, 41‘What do you want me to do for you?’ He said, ‘Lord, let me see again.’ 42Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.’ 43Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer