John 9 (2026)
\nLight of the world, your Word brings new vision and hope. Shine your Spirit
\non us as we listen to the Scriptures, to open our eyes on your Word at work
\nin the world and show us the path we can follow. Amen.<\/p>\n
Your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you is the verse
\nI have been bringing forward during this Lenten season
\nMost of us have verse of scripture that are hidden in our hearts
\nThe verse in today\u2019s gospel that especially speaks to me is this one
\n\u201cwhile I am in the world I am the light for the world\u201d
\nWhat a comforting reminder in the midst of all we have to sort and figure
\nout, Jesus is the light
\nLight can bring hope, it can encourage us to keep going ahead, light pushes
\nthe darkness of confusion away from us
\nOne way light was shown to me was with the help that a friend gave me
\nwhen I was preparing to go to Knox College
\nThere were a lot of things for me to consider at that time
\nI would be a mature student, I had a family to care for, and a job
\nThere were expenses for supplies and travel to be considered
\nI told my friend Elaine that one of the things I would need to get would be a
\nnew Bible, as the NRSV, which was the version we would use in class, was
\nnot one that I owned
\nElaine was a solid supporter of my attending Knox, and she immediately
\ntold me that she had an extra copy of the NRSV, and I could have it
\nIt saw a lot of use from me, and it is a reminder of the way Elaine was used
\nto be the light for my path
\nJesus reminds us in today\u2019s gospel that he is the light for the world<\/p>\n
2
\nJesus being the light is the reason for today\u2019s story and Jesus being light is
\nwhat he is trying to communicate with both his disciples and the crowd
\nIt is clear as we read this gospel story that people are not getting the point
\nthat Jesus is making
\nHave you ever told had that happen to you?
\nYou may wonder how people can stray so far from the point you are making
\nwhen it is clear to you where you are going
\nA number of years ago something happened in our family that showed me
\nthe importance of being clear in communicating
\nIt happened when I was the minister at First Sackville Presbyterian Church
\nin Lower Sackville
\nThe boys were all school age then, and they were lively
\nOn this particular Sunday Ken had to work, so the boys were solely in my
\ncharge
\nI had arranged for the boys to sit with one of the elders and his wife at the
\nbeginning of the service until it was time for the kids to go downstairs to
\nSunday School
\nAbout 15 minutes before the service was to begin one of the boys was being
\nparticularly active
\nAt that point I turned to him and used a tone that most mothers will identify
\nwith when I said \u201cyoung man, you better settle down or you\u2019ll find yourself
\nwalking home!\u201d
\nHome was about a mile and a half away, so I didn\u2019t think that it was in realm
\nof possibility
\nI was quite sure that this would make it clear to him that he needed to
\nsimmer down and behave for 10 minutes, and until there would be things for
\nhim to do<\/p>\n
3
\nJust before the service was to begin someone came and said they couldn\u2019t
\nfind this one of the boys
\nI led worship with an anxious mind, thinking that surely he would not have
\nunderstood my ultimatum as an actual choice
\n(I hasten to point out here that he was about 12 years old, not 5)
\nA quick trip home after the final Amen proved that he had indeed
\nunderstood my ultimatum as a presentation of two options and he took
\nchoice b
\nIt seemed clear to me that in the future I would have to be more clear in my
\ninstructions
\nThat is the point I took from the story, and I did learn my lesson
\nIt surprised me though how many people would get caught up in what
\nconsequence Cameron received as a result of what happened, or wanting to
\nknow how far the house was from the church, or how heavy the traffic was<\/p>\n
To an even greater degree the story in our gospel lesson has us dealing with
\npeople who just don\u2019t get it
\nWe have the story of a man born blind being healed and the reactions to that
\nmiracle
\nThere is no rejoicing but much questioning of the details surrounding the
\nmiracle
\nIn fact the discussion changes focus from the miraculous to the mundane<\/p>\n
And so we come to our gospel lesson for today
\nThe blind man sat by the road
\nAnd when Jesus healed the man<\/p>\n
4
\nThe Pharisees upon discovering that the man could now see, set out to
\ndiscover how this came to be!
\nSome went to the man\u2019s parents to discover if indeed this man had been born
\nblind
\nThe parents distanced themselves from what was going on
\n\u201cAsk him,\u201d they said
\nFinally the man was driven out of town
\nYou\u2019d think the people would be rejoicing and celebrating
\nThat they would congratulate the man, and call Jesus to speak to them
\nMaybe there would even be a holiday as people celebrated that this man
\ncould now see
\nInstead, there is a scrambling to find out who is to blame<\/p>\n
Even before the man is healed
\nThe question is asked
\nWhose fault is his blindness?
\nSuch a question in the face of bad things is typical of people
\nIt seems if we can assign fault or blame, it somehow seems to make those of
\nus not afflicted feel better
\nWhen there is a tragedy that makes no sense we have a hard time adjusting
\nAnd so we ask \u201cHow can this be?\u201d
\nThere is a need in people to understand why bad things happen
\nAnd sometimes we simply are not told why
\nSometimes we simply can pray through what is happening
\nLooking to God for strength
\nStill the nagging question will not go away
\nWhy did this person suffer?<\/p>\n
5<\/p>\n
Why did that child get sick?
\nWhy?
\nThe renowned Christian writer C.S. Lewis had this to say
\nCS Lewis was the author of the widely read children's books,
\nThe Narnia Chronicles,
\nas well as many novels for grown-ups and books on issues surrounding the
\nChristian faith.
\nThe movie Shadowlands (directed by Richard Attenborough and produced in
\n1993) tells Lewis' story,
\nfocusing in particular on his relationship with his wife, Joy Gresham.
\nGresham and Lewis meet while Lewis is a don at Oxford University.
\nAfter Joy is diagnosed with cancer the couple marry.
\nThe movie invites us to witness their love, their pain, their grief, their
\nstruggles with faith and God.
\nEventually Joy dies.
\nAt one point in the story a friend says to Lewis,
\n"Christopher can scoff, Jack, but I know how hard you've been praying; and
\nnow God is answering your prayers."
\nLewis replies "That's not why I pray, Harry.
\nI pray because I can't help myself.
\nI pray because I'm helpless.
\nI pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping.
\nIt doesn't change God, it changes me."<\/p>\n
The truth the Lewis learned is there for us too, that God will walk with us in
\nour times of questioning
\nBut the answer to the question<\/p>\n
6<\/p>\n
Why is this happening? is not always given
\nThe disciples asked
\n\u201cWho sinned that this man was born blind\u201d
\nJesus said \u201cno one\u201d<\/p>\n
To the people who lived in Jesus\u2019 time the explanation for disease was sin
\nIt you were sick it was because you had brought it on yourself
\nYou or your parents had committed a wrong
\nAnd this was the consequence
\nSimple
\nJesus sets this theory on its ear
\nHe says that neither the blind man nor his parents sinned
\nThis happened that God\u2019s works might be revealed in him
\nWhat if we were to take that attitude to troubles in our lives?
\nNot that we accuse God of sending troubles to make himself look good
\nBut what if we see troubles as a way of showing God\u2019s works
\nNot to look for the why of what happened
\nBut to look at what I can do with this
\nThe great American civil rights leader Martin Luther King learned this truth
\nHe was a person with tremendous courage.
\nHe endured vilification, beatings, imprisonments, death threats, his house
\nwas firebombed, and as we all know, he eventually was assassinated.
\nSo what kept him going?
\nIt was his strong sense of God's call upon his life.
\nKing was just 26 years old when he was appointed leader of the civil rights
\ncampaign in Montgomery, Alabama.
\nApart from terrifying threats from the Ku Klux Klan,<\/p>\n
7<\/p>\n
King was harassed by police.
\nArrested for driving 5 miles per hour over the speed limit he was given his
\nfirst stint in jail.
\nThe night after his release he was at home when the phone rang.
\n"Nigger", said a menacing voice on the other end, \u201cwe are tired of you and
\nyour mess now.
\nAnd if you aren't out of this town in three days, we're going to blow your
\nbrains out and blow up your house."
\nKing was unnerved and very afraid – for himself, for his wife and for his
\nlittle children.
\nShortly after the phone call he sat at his kitchen table drinking a cup of
\ncoffee.
\n"And I sat at that table" he said, "thinking about that little girl and thinking
\nabout the fact that she could be taken away from me at any minute.
\nAnd I started thinking about a dedicated, devoted and loyal wife, who was
\nover there asleep…
\nAnd I got to the point where I couldn't take it anymore. I was weak…
\nAnd I discovered then that religion had to become real to me,
\nand I had to know God for myself.
\nAnd I bowed down over that cup of coffee.
\nI will never forget it…I said, 'Lord, I'm down here trying to do what's right.
\nI think I'm right.
\nI think the cause we represent is right.
\nBut Lord, I must confess that I'm weak now.
\nI'm faltering.
\nI'm losing my courage…<\/p>\n
8
\nAnd it seemed to me at that moment that I could hear an inner voice saying
\nto me,
\n'Martin Luther, stand up for righteousness.
\nStand up for justice.
\nStand up for truth.
\nAnd lo, I will be with you, even until the end of the world.'…
\nI heard the voice of Jesus saying still to fight on.
\nHe promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone.
\nNo never alone.
\nNo never alone.
\nHe promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone."
\nThree nights later the menacing threat made in the phone call came true:
\na bomb exploded on the front verandah of the King home.
\nThankfully no one was hurt.
\nBut King was able to get through it:
\n"My religious experience a few nights before had given me strength to face
\nit."
\nTime and again throughout his ministry Martin Luther King returned to that
\nexperience to strengthen him as he faced terrible difficulties.
\nKing believed in non-violent means to gain justice
\nAnd because he focused on God, who God is and what God wanted
\nKing was a man known to stand for the truth
\nHe didn\u2019t focus on the wrong
\nSo he didn\u2019t become like his persecutors<\/p>\n
The man Jesus healed in our story was physically blind
\nHe could not see the beauties of nature<\/p>\n
9<\/p>\n
Or the faces of his friends and family
\nHe was in a world alone
\nJesus made his eyes well
\nAnd the man could see
\nAnd in response the man worshipped
\nAnd while all around him
\nPeople were trying to find out what had happened and why
\nThe man simply came to Jesus and worshipped
\nHe gave his loyalty and life to Jesus
\nThe temptation is there for us to be like those around the man
\nTo try to figure out why things are as they are
\nSuch activity can blind us to what God is calling us to do
\nWe need rather to look to Jesus
\nLike Martin Luther King become like Jesus
\nLike the blind man worship Jesus
\nAnd leave God to figure out the whys of the world<\/p>\n
Prayer
\nGod, Shepherd of our Lives,
\nwe give you thanks for all the things you provide that make life good and
\nfull:
\nFor the rhythms of nature which water thirsty lands, producing food for all
\ncreatures; for energy to work and for community to share in the produce of
\nwork.
\nYet we are still thirsty in this land of plenty:
\nthirsty for hope when work fails;
\nthirsty for love when friends fail;<\/p>\n
10<\/p>\n
thirsty for justice when sharing fails.
\nShepherd God, fill us with your love, lead us on your paths.<\/p>\n
God, Shepherd of our lives,
\nwe thank you for the light you shine in a world filled with complexity,
\nto bring hope and increase understanding:
\nunderstanding to address human need and improve daily life;
\nunderstanding to deepen relationships and mutual respect;
\nunderstanding to tackle problems and seek solutions.
\nWe seek your light to lead us:
\nthe light of wisdom to bring people of different perspectives together;
\nthe light of courage to work for change in desperate situations;
\nthe light of hope to persevere when change is difficult.
\nShepherd God, fill us with your love,
\nlead us on your paths.<\/p>\n
God, Shepherd of our lives,
\nwe thank you for the purpose and potential you create for us in Christ:
\nfor creating friendships and neighbourhoods that support us,
\nfor creating co-operation to accomplish goals that seem impossible,
\nfor creating gratitude for the gifts we discover in each other.
\nWe seek the gifts of the Spirit we need in these challenging days:
\nthe gift of confidence to renew our ministries in humility and hope,
\nthe gift of generosity to renew lives in need around us,
\nthe gift of faith to trust you for a future we cannot yet see ourselves.
\nShepherd God,
\nLead us on your paths.<\/p>\n
11<\/p>\n
God, Good Shepherd of our Lives,
\nwe give you thanks that Jesus walks beside us
\nand leads us on the paths you set before us into the future,
\nand so we pray in Jesus name Amen<\/p>\n
COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTION
\nAs we continue our Lenten journey, remember the words from Ephesians:
\n\u201cLive as children of light.\u201d
\nSo may the light of God\u2019s love surround you,
\nThe light of Christ\u2019s mercy renew you,
\nAnd the light of the Spirit guide you this day and every day to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
John 9 (2026) Light of the world, your Word brings new vision and hope. Shine your Spirit on us as we listen to the Scriptures, to open our eyes on your Word at work in the world and show us the path we can follow. Amen. Your word have I hid in my heart that … Continue reading “Sermon for March 15th, 2026”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"sermons_blog_filters_topics":"\t\t\t\t