The honor of their presence

John had been pastor at Ascension Church for about three years. During his first year there, he attempted to visit every household in the congregation. Not unlike many churches, the membership list at Ascension included several families whose names could not be matched up with their faces — not by the fellowship committee, not by the Christian Ed director, not even by the secretary, who had been there for twelve years. Their faces had not been seen in years.

God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness.
So God created humankind, in the image of God."

So appointments were made, and John's visits began.
 
It was in this way that John found his way to the home of Ed Read. Ed had attended occasionally, always alone. And when he was in worship, he sat near the back of the sanctuary, across from Ted, a quiet older man. Ted attended regularly. He had no family in the area, so he, too, sat alone.

In Ephesians, it is written that, "we are God's works of art."

During the visit, John also met Ruth, Ed's wife. And, although he was never introduced, their son, Bill, made his presence known — solely through noise coming from elsewhere in the house.  Bill, the invisible son, is autistic. 

As Jesus walked along the dusty road, he saw a man blind from birth. A disciple asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

And as the noise from Bill's room increased, Ruth, too, disappeared deep into the house.

As Jesus walked along the dusty road, he saw a man blind from birth. A disciple asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"  Jesus knew that, according to Pharisaic tradition, either the parent or the unborn child must have been unrepentant sinners before the child's birth.

Last year, during the hymnal drive at Ascension Church, Ed — and his family — contributed all of the hymnals. Yes, all of them. On the Monday before the hymnal dedication, John called Ed. "Ed, I just wanted to make sure you'll be with us this week for the dedication of the hymnals. And we hope that Ruth and Bill will attend with you." 

Now, Ruth and Bill had never been to Ascension Church. John even wondered if they had ever left the house. So you can imagine his surprise when, on Thursday, they called to say they would all be there Sunday!

Jesus said, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,” where the ritually unclean prepare for Temple worship. The man went and washed and came back able to see. 

On Saturday, John began to feel a little nervous. Perhaps a little preparation of the congregation might be in order! He thought especially of Ted, the man who sat across the aisle from Ed in worship. He phoned Ted to explain the situation, and suggested, “When Ed's family joins us for worship tomorrow, you may find Bill's moving around to be distracting. Please feel free to move to another seat.” 

As Jesus walked along the dusty road, he saw a man blind from birth. A disciple asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus knew that, according to tradition, either the parent or the unborn must have sinned before the child's birth, and he chose to answer a slightly different question. “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, they are all beloved children of Abraham. The man was born blind to allow God's works to be revealed in him." 

The pastor said to Ted, “Please feel free to move to another seat.” Ted responded, "Oh, I couldn't do that."

The villagers from Galilee were used to passing by the blind beggar, who sat outside the wall, as they made their way into the Temple in Jerusalem. When they and the man's neighbors saw him walking unhindered toward Jesus, they began to ask, “Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?”

At the dedication of the hymnals, there was a festive mood ... a trumpet player, new banners, a stray child darting down the aisle and the congregation greeting each other noisily. 

And there were Ed, Ruth and Bill. Bill's right hand rhythmically tapped the pew, and once in a while he'd speak in a loud stage whisper.

The villagers from Galilee were used to passing by the blind beggar, who sat outside the wall, as they made their way into worship. When they and the man's neighbors saw him walking unhindered toward Jesus. They began to ask, "Isn't this the man?"

Bill continued to tap. Ted sat across the aisle — beaming. 

Jesus went and found him, and spoke to him. And the man saw Jesus, and he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. 

The service of dedication proceeded. The children rustled. John spoke gently from the pulpit. Bill tapped. The trumpet sounded. Change clattered into the offering plate. And prayers were spoken.

Jesus went and found him, and spoke to him. And the man saw Jesus, and he said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him. 

Today, Bill is a part of the congregation of Ascension Church — part of the church family. Ruth, no longer invisible with her son, goes to worship, attends church suppers, helps with the flowers and often wears a smile on her face.

So the leaders of the Temple, who tithed and carefully followed the law, and who held the power to ban him from the synagogue, said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him?  It was your eyes he opened.” And the man said, "He is a prophet." 

Affirmation of faith

Jesus asked, who do you say that I am?

We join with the voice of Simon Peter, who answered Jesus:
You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

We join with the voice of the centurion at the foot of the cross, who proclaimed:
Truly this man was God's Son!

And with John, the Gospel-writer, we affirm that Jesus is:
the Bread of Life,
the Light of the World,
the Good Shepherd,
the True Vine,
the Gate,
the Teacher who has washed the feet of his friends,
the Resurrection and the Life.

And with the man whom Jesus healed, we answer the Risen Christ, saying:
Lord, I believe.  Amen.

– by the Rev. Robin Lostetter, PDC Leadership Team