Perspective & Vision
Seeing clearly to live and love.
Luke 6:39-49 | Acts 9:18-30
Have you heard the story of the blind men and the elephant? It’s been around for quite a while, so it can be found in many forms and hinges on ableism. But the essence is that several different blind men describe an elephant differently than one another based upon what part of the elephant they are experiencing through touch. One feels the trunk and describes the elephant as snake-like. Another feels the tusks and says it must be like the point of a spear. Still another feels the tail and says it’s like a rope. …and so on. None of them is wrong, none is completely correct. All could do better with more perspective.1
Much of our Christians discipleship is a call to look beyond our own perspective. It is also true that our discipleship can and should simplify life. But in terms of knowledge, wisdom, and the catalyst of God’s love, Jesus calls us to understand differently than simply what our own eyes and perspective tell us.
Our continuation of the sermon on the plain today calls us beyond ourselves. And Saul→Paul’s new experience with Jesus features flakes falling from his eyes so he can not only see again, but see with eyes he hasn’t had before.
Whether it’s flakes, a log, or a splinter, our eyes can be clouded or blocked from seeing appropriately, rightly, and lovingly. Thankfully, we are servants of a God who exudes a patient grace. Might we do the same?
Blessings upon you as you join the Church in worship today.
Luke 6:39-49
Jesus also told them a riddle. “A blind person can’t lead another blind person, right? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? Disciples aren’t greater than their teacher, but whoever is fully prepared will be like their teacher. Why do you see the splinter in your brother’s or sister’s eye but don’t notice the log in your own eye? How can you say to your brother or sister, ‘Brother, Sister, let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ when you don’t see the log in your own eye? You deceive yourselves! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s or sister’s eye.
“A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit, nor does a bad tree produce good fruit. Each tree is known by its own fruit. People don’t gather figs from thorny plants, nor do they pick grapes from prickly bushes. A good person produces good from the good treasury of the inner self, while an evil person produces evil from the evil treasury of the inner self. The inner self overflows with words that are spoken.
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and don’t do what I say? I’ll show what it’s like when someone comes to me, hears my words, and puts them into practice. It’s like a person building a house by digging deep and laying the foundation on bedrock. When the flood came, the rising water smashed against that house, but the water couldn’t shake the house because it was well built. But those who don’t put into practice what they hear are like a person who built a house without a foundation. The floodwater smashed against it and it collapsed instantly. It was completely destroyed.”
Acts 9:18-30
Instantly, flakes fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. He got up and was baptized. After eating, he regained his strength.
He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days. Right away, he began to preach about Jesus in the synagogues. “He is God’s Son,” he declared.
Everyone who heard him was baffled. They questioned each other, “Isn’t he the one who was wreaking havoc among those in Jerusalem who called on this name? Hadn’t he come here to take those same people as prisoners to the chief priests?”
But Saul grew stronger and stronger. He confused the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
After this had gone on for some time, the Jews hatched a plot to kill Saul. However, he found out about their scheme. They were keeping watch at the city gates around the clock so they could assassinate him. But his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the city wall.
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t believe he was really a disciple. Then Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles and told them the story about how Saul saw the Lord on the way and that the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them about the confidence with which Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus. After this, Saul moved freely among the disciples in Jerusalem and was speaking with confidence in the name of the Lord. He got into debates with the Greek-speaking Jews as well, but they tried to kill him. When the family of believers learned about this, they escorted him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
Prayer
God,
Give us better vision. Give us better vision not simply to be right, but to be loving, which is to be right.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
Wikipedia has an entry if you want to learn more.
Always on point!