Even when I got my sight back, I wore very thick glasses. People
could tell that my eye sight was not like theirs. I had gotten my driving
license and was a competent driver, but driving was always work for me. I
always felt more comfortable with another person in the car who helped with confirming
what I already knew, another set of eyes to help in traffic and read signs. It
wasn’t that I couldn’t do it myself, it just made life easier.
So standing in the narthex after worship at my internship
congregation one day, a parishioner said, “I know you have difficulty with your
eye sight and don’t see as well as I do, but the other day I saw you driving
your truck. How do you manage that?”
I looked at her and said, “I just hook my white cane up to
the windshield wipers and tap my way down the road.”
In today’s reading Paul
is challenged in his authority by the Corinthians. He responds that, as far as
letters of authority needing to be written, the Corinthians are his living
referral letters. He claims no competence in himself, but points to the perfect
work of Jesus Christ . If we depend on the work of
humans, we can only look to works of judgment and death. God alone, revealed to
us in Christ, creates something with the Holy Spirit that is permanent—a beautiful
relationship made right with God through Christ’s actions for us that eclipses
the best work of humankind.
By ourselves, we tap our way down the street seeking the
way, but, in Christ , we are led and guided. We are
assured of what we know and shown the way when we are lost or confused. Our
confidence and our competence is in Jesus Christ who wipes our windshields
clean revealing the way.
Prayer
Thank you for the gift and knowledge of salvation. In you,
we are given the gifts that are needed to proclaim your kingdom world. Amen
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