"I ask for the desire to pray and meditate on behalf of my community of faith. May we learn patience, tolerance, gentleness, empathy and compassion. May we abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and shame. May we know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness and walking humbly."
Matthew 20:29-35
29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, ‘Lord,* have mercy on us, Son of David!’ 31The crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, ‘Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!’ 32Jesus stood still and called them, saying, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ 33They said to him, ‘Lord, let our eyes be opened.’ 34Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him.
1) "...followed him;" "...Jesus stood still;" "...let our eyes be opened;" "...moved with compassion;" "...immediately they regained their sight;" "...and followed him;" "...they heard that Jesus was passing by;" "...they shouted;" "...they shouted even more loudly;" "Jesus stood still and called them;" "What do you want me to do for you?"
2) They "shouted" twice, and "said" once. They needed to speak louder, to be heard over the crowd trying to silence them, then they needed to articulate exactly what they wanted. Jesus was moved with compassion. What do we want Jesus to do for us? as a congregation? What do we want specifically? Do we want ministry at Trinity United Church to continue into the future? Do we want it to change in the ways that it needs to change so it can be here? Or do we just want ministry here to be the way it has always been so it can comfort those who are already here until they are no longer in need of the ministry? What do we want Jesus to do for us? Do we want Jesus to magically make an entire generation of young people to suddenly show up and do things our way? Do we want Jesus to make the financial burdens disappear? Do we want Jesus to make us live really, really, really long lives so we can keep the church going? Do we want Jesus to make all of us win the lottery so we can tithe the winnings to the church? Do we only want Jesus to give us what we need so we can do what Jesus wants us to do? I believe that the purpose to "let our eyes be opened" was to make it easier to follow Jesus (it is a curious turn of phrase if they only wanted to see). What do we need so that following Jesus would be easier? Maybe we ourselves, need to ask Jesus to let our eyes be opened?
3) What is the invitation in all this? If we focus on asking for what makes following Jesus easier, we will receive everything that heals us, everything that sets us free, everything that renews our wholeness, everything that reconciles us to God.
"Lord, let our eyes be opened."
Breathprayer: "Son of David... Let our eyes be opened."
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