Colourful Dreamer

My sermon on Sunday did not get written in any shape or form. Life was too busy, and I had to create it while preaching.It turned out ok. You can listen to it here. In it I try to explore how our images of God blind us to God and to each other.  Some questions then that mark the way - How did Job end up with that happy ending, and is it that happy really?  - Why did Job's friends not join him praying TO God, rather than trying to convince him ABOUT God? When do we do that? - How does Bartimaeus act as an icon to the disciples blindness both to him and to what Jesus was teaching them about God? Who are we blind to? Because October 28th is also the Day of Remembrance, when we remember the New Zealand Land Wars, John wonders how the British image of God allowed them to act as they did around their empire, and how that is still at work today.

Seeing and not seeing are the big themes in our readings this week. Job’s friends were so busy defending their idea of God they became blind to Job and did not take the time to pray to God with Job in his despair. Job too is blind, basing his ideas of God on what he has heard. But he at least is willing to engage with God, and is rewarded with sight. Seeing God is dangerous stuff. It shakes him out of all he thought he knew and he recants all he said and all he held dear - they are but dust and ashes. The disciples too have been so blind. Since the first blind man was symbolically healed in Mark 8: 22-26,   they, like that man, have been seeing people walking like trees. Despite Jesus’ threefold teaching about his impending death and resurrection, Peter rebukes and is rebuked; James and John ask for greatness and power. Bartimaeus might be blind, but he can see Jesus for who he is. And he will not let those around him not see him. He cries out defiantly claiming his personhoo...