Monday in Lent 5

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. (John 9:1-3)

Why are we so eager to find blame, to find sin, to find fault? Is it because we hunger desperately to make sense of things, to have explanations?

I cannot accept any faith that does not allow for chance and randomness, for purely gratuitous happenings. The world, as I observe it, does not allow for purpose in everything, much less predetermination. Shit happens. Not because of anyone's sin or fault. God may bring glory out of it. Or not. At least in the short term.

I do believe that ultimately all things fit into a tapestry that we cannot yet begin to imagine. One way of saying "We'll all understand it by and by," I suppose. Maybe we won't. But I do trust God with the outcome.

In the meantime, my task is to seek and serve God at every turn, whether things make sense to me yet or not.

Be gracious to your people, we entreat you, O Lord, that they, repenting day by day of the things that displease you, may be more and more filled with love of you and of your commandments; and, being supported by your grace in this life, may come to the full enjoyment of eternal life in your everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Tempted and tried we're oft made to wonder
Why it should be thus all the day long
While there are others living about us
Never molested though in the wrong

Farther along we'll know all about it
Farther along we'll understand why
Cheer up my brother live in the sunshine
We'll understand it all by and by

When death has come and taken our loved ones
It leaves our home so lonely and drear
And then do we wonder why others prosper
Living so wicked year after year


When we see Jesus coming in glory
When he comes down from his home in the sky
Then we shall meet him in that bright mansion
We'll understand it all by and by

Yeah we'll understand it all by and by

--the BB