WORSHIP SERVICE ON THE 14 TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY LUCSA ASSEMBLY AUGUST 29 TH TO 3 R D SEPTEMBER 2013, WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA

by Bishop Dr. Zephania Kameeta

John 9:1-7
1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7 "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. (New International Version)

Dear Sisters and Brothers, Many people in this world, who are in a position to help, as they go along, do not see. And when they happen to see, they pass by on the other side (Luke 10:31). Many years ago, the Christian Institute established by one of the prophets of the Confessing Church in Southern Arica, the Reverend Beyers Naude, issued a poster with the following words: I was hungry and you established a committee to discuss my hunger This is what is happening in the text we have just read and it is what is happening also until today. The disciples of Jesus are turning the need of a man, who was born blind, into a useless theological debate. Rolling tears, flowing blood and deafening cries of fear and death are turned into opportunities for doctoral theses or movies, which benefit only the producers and not the afflicted ones.

Jesus saw the need and never passed by on the other side or turned it into a debate, which will not change or address the need at hand. Jesus used this mans suffering to teach about faith in God , which gives us strength and he gave a clear perspective in our suffering. We see the glory of God in the healing of those who are suffering. We are called not to pass by on the other side but to respond to His call and to do His work by hearing the cries of the starving and afflicted, wiping away their tears, binding their wounds and healing them. In the same vein we are called not to postpone doing good as long as the opportunity is there. A time will come in your life when you will not be able to do anything and you will regret greatly: Therefore never postpone Gods calling! Jesus said: While I am in the world, let us be the light of the world (V.5). Therefore, let us follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ: While we are in the world, let us be the light of the world, which chases away the darkness of injustice, corruption, poverty and death, and shine among this crooked and depraved generations like stars in the sky (Phil. 2:15). In this story, John takes us back to chapter 1, Verses 1-3 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (New International Version) He is the Creator, who formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life so that the man became a living being (Gen. 2: 7). The earth is our mother and God our father. Therefore we must respect her and take good care of her today, for us and for generations yet to be born. In this Gospel Jesus did as it was done in the beginning. He took our mother earth and turned her into medicine by mixing her with his saliva and put the mud on the mans eyes. Dear sisters and brothe rs, here is God, the Redeemer, at work! He came to liberate and heal the fallen creation from blindness, despair and death. Jesus sent the blind man with the mud on this eyes with these words: Go and wash in the pool of Siloam. This reminds us of Baptism. In Holy Baptism, God in his grace and love, liberates us from the darkness of a sinful and fallen humanity. In the waters of Baptism we are reborn, our eyes are healed from blindness and in the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and by water and Holy Spirit, we are made inheritors of eternal life and members of the Church, which is the body of Christ. We as parents are always reminded when we bring our children for Baptism to faithfully bring them to the worship services in the house of God, to teach them the Lords Prayer, the creed and the ten commandments and as they grow in the years to give them the Bible and provide for their instruction in the Christian faith. We all are reminded to remember our Baptism and live our lives as Baptised people all our days until God calls us back. The word Siloam means Sent. We as Baptised people are sent into the world to open the eyes of the blind and give them a new vision through the eyes of faith in Jesus to give us a new life and a new beginning. The Holy Gospel tells us that the man went as Jesus told him and washed and came home seeing. Let us also go today as Jesus is telling us in his Good News, and healing and a new beginning will take place in our own lives and in the lives of those to whom we go. Amen.