01. Reflection
“ ‘The ability to find God in all things’ . . . is the most significant healing journey any of us will ever take,” says Ruth Haley Barton, quoting St. Ignatius of Loyola. The framework for this article is from John 9—an account of religious people unable to recognize the work of God in their midst. One of the most common miracles recorded of Jesus was giving sight to the blind. “The reason this particular miracle is so common may have to do with the fact that it is a metaphor for the spiritual journey itself—the movement from spiritual blindness to spiritual sight,” says Barton. In this story we see the usual skepticism of the Pharisees on full display. We also see Jesus’ persistence in loving them through challenging their assumptions and inviting them to “see” themselves and the Son of Man.
In her article, Ruth Barton provides an excellent commentary on the passage like an observer to the scene of Jesus healing the blind man. She takes us along with her as we examine each interaction—Pharisees questioning the man, his neighbors, his parents, and finally, Jesus finding the blind man for a second time. “In this particular story the bulk of attention is given to the varying levels of spiritual blindness among those who witness the healing of the blind man,” wrote Barton. “The spiritual blindness that afflicted this man’s family, friends and neighbors is not all that different from what prevents us from recognizing God’s work today. We all need to be healed.”
The disciples limited vision to see what Jesus was doing in this situation—or in many of the instances of miracles they witnessed—seems obvious to readers of the text. But when I reflect on how often I’ve been limited by structural blindness to see what God is doing in a particular situation, I can identify with the disciple’s ignorance. Jesus gives them a gentle challenge and reframes the question the disciples are asking. I love how Ruth paraphrases this, “The right question, according to Jesus, was ‘What is God doing in this situation and how can I get on board with it?’ . . . In fact, it is the best possible question in the face of the brokenness and impossibility of the human situation.”
The Pharisees’ lengthy interrogation of the healed man included questioning his parents, and his friends and neighbors as well. This group of religious leaders couldn’t come to terms with the story as told by the man, and none of the witnesses were willing to risk being ostracized from the community by fully embracing the miracle that had occurred. The Pharisees chose critique over curiosity. “Getting caught up in preserving the system gave them a convenient way to avoid dealing with who Jesus was, the miracle he had performed, and the fresh wind of the Spirit of God that was moving among them.”
As Ruth walks us toward the end of the story, we see God’s kind pursuit of the marginalized and outcast. Jesus went to find the man, healed, but still suffering. He revealed himself as the Son of Man and then helped further interpret the man’s own story. He explains his mission for coming into the world, and yet again the Pharisees religious identity was threatened. “This is the point of the whole story,” says Barton “Only those who admit their blindness will be healed. Those who are convinced that they see and stubbornly refuse to admit their need for healing will not be able to see anything new nor will they progress on the spiritual journey.”
02. Find a journal or a friend, and reflect on the questions below
- If we are honest, we can probably all find ourselves depicted somewhere in this story. Ask God to help you reflect honestly and find yourself in the John 9 story. See the Practice section at the end of the article for Ruth Haley Barton’s description of the different ways we might connect to the passage.
- How might approaching a situation with curiosity instead of critique shift one’s perspective?
- Ruth said that the right question according to Jesus was “What is God doing in this situation and how can I get on board with it?” Think of some circumstances in your own life. How could asking that question open your eyes to seeing God’s invitation for you in a new way?
- Spend some time in silence and read the words of the Celtic prayer Ruth included in the article.
Heal our inner sight, O God,
that we may know the difference between good and evil.
Open our eyes
that we may see what is true and what is false.
Restore us to wisdom
that we may be well in our souls,
Restore us to wisdom
that we and our world may be well.J. Philip Newell, Celtic Treasure (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2005), 114.
- For a current take on how someone approaches situations with openness and attunement to the Spirit, check out the book Living Fearless: Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God by Jamie Winship or Robby Angle’s interview with author Jamie Winship on the Trueface podcast. He tells incredible stories about how God has walked with him through unbelievable situations, simply because he operates from his identity in Christ, in a conversational relationship with God.