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In touch

Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues

Award for leading man?

In a fabulous story about overcoming blindness and growing in understanding, someone deserves an award! (John 9:1-41)

• Awards were being handed out at the Oscars on Sunday 12 March in Hollywood, as artists of the silver screen gathered together for the 95th Academy Awards, with an evening of glamour and celebration.
• Comedy takes centre stage again as Red Nose Day returns on Friday 17 March, with Comic Relief on the BBC.

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

• A big part of the excitement arising from an awards ceremony such as the Oscars is the glamorous red carpet celebrity arrivals (which, shockingly, this year wasn’t red!) – the who’s who of who’s wearing what or not! How often do we tend to judge by appearances? Yet the irony of God’s statement to Samuel (1 Samuel 16:7) about humanity judging people by outward appearance, whereas God looks into their heart, should not be lost on us when heard alongside the story about a blind man, in the same week as the world’s biggest awards ceremony in the film industry. As anyone who has any true understanding of the power of storytelling through film will tell you, a movie is so much more than just a moving image – just as it involves so many more people than just the actors. What do we really see and understand is happening in today’s gospel reading? With such a long passage maybe it would help for you to look closer at it, scene by scene, in order to glimpse the bigger picture.

• John 9:1-41 is one of those gospel stories where you can’t help but wonder who is the star of the show. Is it the man born blind (with his parents in a non-supporting role), who certainly receives an award, but who then also receives an onstage grilling for unfortunately being in the right place at the right time? Is it Jesus, who shoots a masterpiece of healing on his day off? Or is it the Pharisees, who take on the role of both critics and judges? It really depends on your point of view or, to use a film analogy, the camera angle from which the scene is viewed from.

• At the Academy Awards the spotlight is often on those who receive the biggest awards – actor or actress in a leading role; director; best picture – but if you take a closer look at the full range of awards given out, it raises your appreciation of the artistry at all levels of film making. If we take a similar approach to John’s Gospel retelling of the amazing story of how a man born blind receives sight, how can we come to see a new level of appreciation and understanding of all those who touch this man’s life?
• If the story from John 9:1-41 about overcoming blindness and growing in understanding were a nominee at the Oscars, which ‘actors’ in the story would go home with an award and what for? What qualities or attributes does the man born blind ‘see’ in Jesus? How does the way that Jesus acts make him different to the other cast members in the story?
• Everything Everywhere All At Once came away from the Academy Awards  with 7 Oscars, with Michelle Yeoh becoming the first Asian woman to receive the Award for Best Actress. The film really is about seeing and understanding the world, telling the story of a Chinese American laundry owner who connects with parallel universe versions of herself. A story which has, at its core, questions about our own free will and how we see ourselves in reality, also begs us to ask questions of today’s gospel passage – whose version of what is happening here is actually reality: the man born blind; his parents; the Pharisees; the disciples or Jesus? The man in the story (John 9:30) says to the Pharisees: “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from and yet he opened my eyes.” Reflect on times when God has opened your eyes to a new level of understanding, either gradually or suddenly.

 

Questions for discussion

• Is the focus of the Pharisees’ complaints in John 9:1-41 all about: one man’s disability; an exuberant need to attach the label of ‘sin’ to an act or person; an ‘illegal’ act of healing; or the question of Jesus' authority to act in God’s name? Discuss whether you think it’s one or more of the above.

• Mothering Sunday (aka Mother’s Day, along with Father’s Day) can rightly be seen as an award day for parenting. What does John 9:1-41 show us about where parenting responsibilities stop – morally, legally or emotionally? In this instance in what ways might we consider Jesus more deserving of a parenting award, than the man’s actual parents?

• Red Nose Day raises awareness for those struggling with poverty, disability or health issues. Events such as this are sadly essential to help us overcome our blindness to certain individuals or situations in the world. They help our understanding of the lives of others to grow in such a way that we contemplate what we could or should do to help. But Red Nose Day also celebrates those who embrace the role of caring for others. Are there people in your church or community who you feel deserve some Oscar-style recognition? Discuss how you might celebrate what they do with an appropriate award ceremony. Children might like to nominate parents or grandparents, but ask them to give reasons why.

Tim Lowe is a minister of the United Reformed Church, serving in the Leeds URC Partnership, has never been nominated for an Oscar, but will be acing wearing a red nose on Friday!

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

Whether you love or loath Manchester City, it’s difficult not to be impressed by their 7-0 win against RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Tuesday night. As the snow fluttered down in Manchester, Erling Haaland floated goal after goal into the net – 5 in total – helping City to their victory and making sure they move to the next stage in the competition.

It was quite a performance; completely decisive. There was no sense that Manchester City just squeezed a victory, or just made it over the line, or finished with a draw leaving the officials to do the maths to try and work out which team was heading through to the next round. No! This was completely decisive, they won and they won big! Nobody is able to say otherwise – the evidence is there for everyone to see. This victory leaves no room for doubt about the power of Manchester City and their striker Mr Erling Haaland!

In the Gospel reading there is a moment where Jesus changes things in a decisive way. He comes across a man who has been blind from birth – he absolutely could not see. Jesus performs a miracle and the man is given his sight. He can now see everything clearly. Jesus doesn’t give him a bit of sight, or slightly heal him; his sight isn’t blurred, it is clear and perfect. Nobody is able to say otherwise – the evidence is there for all to see. It’s completely decisive. You could say Jesus has absolutely smashed the ball into the back of the net and there is no denying the power and the victory of God on earth in the shape of Jesus Christ.

• When you read stories about Jesus performing such a decisive miracle, how does it make you feel?
• Do you ever feel doubts about the power of God in your life? How can this story help you?

You may wish to use this prayer activity:

Invite the young people to use their cameras on their phones to take a picture of their eyes closed and another of their eyes opened. Ask them to look at the two pictures as you pray:

Thank you, God, for healing the blind man.
For giving him his sight completely and fully.
Thank you that there was no room for doubt.
Thank you for a story that shows us the power and victory of God on earth.
Amen

Fiona Dorman is Bristol Cathedral Education Officer and a freelance training, coaching and mediation consultant.

 

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