Salvation...and Safety

"That's all I have to say about that."

-- Forrest Gump

The Man Born Blind…Born This Way

Wow! Father John gave a stunningly amazing sermon today on the gospel about the man who was blind from birth. We hear this reading so frequently, it’s easy to miss or ignore important messages. I’m always glad when I have a big aha moment like I did today: God’s radical transforming power is a process. I know, I know. We hear this a million times, but sometimes you hear it in a way that gives it new meaning.

So Jesus comes across a man who is blind, picks up some dirt, spits into his hands and then rubs the mud on the man’s eyes. He then says to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent).” Editorial note: it’s one thing to wash mud out of your eyes; it’s another thing entirely to find your way to Siloam if you’re blind. If you’re used to hanging out all day in one place begging for money, you probably don’t have any idea where Siloam is or how to get there. You probably need to ask people to help you… Hmm, another manifestation of God’s transforming power!

So the blind man went and washed and came back able to see. Along the way, he tells a bunch of people what happened to him and helps lead others to the Lord. Once again, the moment of epiphany: God’s radical transforming power is a process. It doesn’t happen in an instant. It takes time and it engages us in the work of transformation. I love when I’m reminded of that.

Then, Father John gave us this unusual end of homily plot twist: he mentioned that he and his family saw Lady Gaga in concert at the Verizon Center. In the midst of her performance, Lady Gaga says, “Jesus loves everybody!” (Not just some people.) She also performs “Born This Way,” which provides another rich perspective on the man born blind. In the gospel, the authority figures want to know WHOSE SIN resulted in this person’s blindness. Was it his sin? Was it his parents’ sin? Someone must be responsible for this deformity! Nope. Try the lyrics from “Born This Way” instead…

There's nothin' wrong with lovin' who you are
She said, 'cause He made you perfect, babe
So hold your head up, girl and you you'll go far
Listen to me when I say

I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way