2 Kings 2:1-12; 2 Cor. 3:12-4:6; Mark 9:2-9
Bruce
Springsteen's song, "Blinded by the Light," became a hit song in 1977
after being recorded by the Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Springsteen offered a
tongue-in-check analysis of why the British rock group's version was so
successful after his was not. He pointed out that the phrase "revved up by
a deuce" was misheard in their singing of the refrain and it changed the
song's meaning. While it may be true, unfortunately, that people are
"revved up by deuces," we are certainly not blinded by the light. As
God's Word makes clear in today's Epistle, we are actually blinded by the dark.
With
rare exceptions, light does not cause blindness. But darkness does. Even a
person who has trouble seeing in the light because his eyes have adjusted to
darkness isn't blinded by the light into which he's entered, but by the
darkness from which he has escaped. Once his eyes adjust to the light he can
see well — much better than he could in the darkness. So it is for us. Once we
were in spiritual darkness. We were blinded by sin and unbelief. There was no
light in our lives because "the god of this age" had blinded us with
his darkness. But God spoke His Word of life and light to us. He said,
"Let light shine out of darkness" and the veil of darkness was
removed from our minds and He "made His light shine in our hearts."
Once we were blinded by the dark, but now we can see by the light of His Word.
Because many people remain blinded by the dark, Christ has called us to bring
His light to those still in darkness.
The call
to bring the light of Christ to the people of our world still blinded by
"the god of this age" is a challenge, but it is much more than that.
This call is our very purpose for being here. While we may be tempted to linger
in the warmth and beauty of His light, like Peter was on the Mount of
Transfiguration, Jesus will not allow us to be blinded by His light and lose
sight of our purpose to bring His love to those who are still in darkness. We
are not to avoid them, despise them, pity them, or dismiss them, but we are to
show compassion to them as though they are blind people trying to make their
way through an unfamiliar place without any help — because that is what they
are. And that is what we were when we were blinded by the dark. But no more!
The veil of darkness has been lifted and glory of Christ shines in our lives.
Audio file of the sermon based on this reflection
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