4th SUN LENT – “How do I get there from here?”

     “As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.  His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,  that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned;  it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.”  (John 9:1ff)

Jesus simply acted.  No request.  No begging.  No preliminaries except this set up line.  Spit.  Mud.  On his eyes.  “Go wash!”  He washed and was able to see.

I just thought of this question today – how did he get to Siloam?  Here’s a thought:

“Raphael, get over here.”  “Wow, what’s the crap on your eyes?”  “Mud.  Some guy just put mud on my eyes saying something about ‘did my parents sin so I’m blind’.  Then he took off.  Told me to go to Siloam and wash.”

“Whaaaa?  Siloam’s on the other side of town.  How you gonna get there?”  “That’s why I called you, Raphael.”  You are my man today.  Take me there.”  “Dude, I have stuff to do, pockets to pick, fruit to swipe…”  “Here’s the deal.  Just get me to Siloam and I’ll give you a cut of today’s alms. Don’t you have a hat?  Gimme it.  I must look like a… whatever.  I’m not walking there by myself with this crap on my eyes…”

Raphael:  “Of course, today’s one of the busiest days this month.  Lots of pockets to…”  “Man, just get me to the damn pool.”

Raphael:  “OK, we’re there.  Now what?”  “I’ve been here before – a while ago…  Just get me to the stairs and I’ll get on down to there to wash.”  “Take me to the river!!!”  “Ah, they don’t write songs like that anymore…”

“Raphael!  Raphael!  Get your sorry you-know-what down here!”  “Whaaaa?”  “Don’t say anything, man.  I… can…  see… you…  Holy Cripes!  What just happened…?”  “You’re kidding me, right… follow my hand.”  “Dude, quiet!  I can see you… I can see me… I can see.  Don’t tell anybody yet…”  “Now what?”