Dear friends in Christ, grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

“People see what they want to see” is a well-known quote attributed to the legendary Hall of Fame sportscaster Red Barber. It’s an interesting observation of human behavior and not just among sports fans.  I’m reminded of the guy on a bus who pulled out a photo of his wife and showed it the man sitting next to him. “Ain’t she beautiful?”  The neighboring stranger replied, “If you think she’s beautiful, you should see my wife” The man with the photo answered, “Is she as stunning as mine?” He said, “No, she’s an optician.” We all generally see what we want to see, and we hear what we want to hear. This is a wonderful quality when you are looking for the good in the world and in those around you, but it is a frustrating quality when you can only see the negative. Seeing what you want to see shapes and even distorts an individual’s perception of reality, often exposing them to their own personal blind spots.

As Jesus and his disciples were walking along, they came upon a man who was blind from birth. Rather than focus on him as a needy person like themselves, they asked who was to blame for his condition: Was God punishing him for his own actions or was it the result of his parents’ wrongdoing?  They saw human hardship and perceived sin. Truthfully, no one seemed to care about the poor man and all that he had suffered, except for Jesus, not the disciples, nor his neighbors, nor the Pharisees, not even his own parents. “People see what they want to see.”

Regrettably, the world has not changed.  We pray for the protection of our families and friends, and yet many still get sick and suffer. Some people are quick to explain suffering away from their convenient place of comfort and security, or they choose to pin the responsibility on the suffering innocents.  But that was not how Jesus saw this man.  He saw in this man born blind the possibility that the works of God might be made visible through him. In him he saw a courageous soul waiting to do God’s calling.

My friends, God does not want you to see only what you want to see. He wants you to see the possibilities he sees in all people- including you.  He wants you to be aware of your blind spots and experience a spiritual awakening. But beware, that choice may not be easy.

The Italian author Conte Vittorio Alfieri once wrote, “Often the test of courage is not to die, but to live.” The young man born blind certainly didn’t consider himself courageous person. Scripture doesn’t even record the young man’s name, but ancient tradition states that he was Celidonius which means “Little Swallow.”  According to the early church father St. Basil, Celidonius was not just without sight, he was without eyes. When Jesus bent down to the ground and made mud out of the clay, he was creating eyes. No wonder people debated about whether it was him or not. Going from having no eyes to having eyes changed his appearance.

But there was more about Celidonius that changed, than just his appearance. He was suddenly faced with a whole new set of challenges. He discovered that the world was as blind as he had been. He hadn’t asked for sight, Jesus simply healed him. Then he heard folks turn the tables. People who called Celidonius a sinner now claimed that his healer was the sinner.  Many for the simple reason that Jesus performed a miracle on the Sabbath day. Perhaps because Celidonius knew they had judged him wrongly, he replied, “About sin, I can’t say, all I know is that he opened my eyes.” Isn’t that the point here? Didn’t Jesus do something better than those who criticized him? Isn’t it more God-like to help and to heal?”  Even Celidonius’ own parents seemed to be disinterested in his new life. He expected that the Pharisees at least would marvel at the miracle of sight.  He had after all been born blind. Instead, his courage and will were criticized. He had suddenly become an outsider for a second time: once, for being born blind, and now, for being able to see. “People see what they want to see.”  If they were only, equally aware of their blind spots.

Surprisingly, Celidonius’ spiritual awakening invited more chaos into our lives than anything else. His confession of faith had terrible consequences for him. He was cast out of the synagogue and cut off from the reading of Scripture, from his family, from the Friday evening Sabbaths, and the certainty of the Law.

My friends, the story of Jesus healing Celidonius the man born blind is truly a miracle story which beautifully proclaims the wonder of God’s healing grace, but just as it was true in that first century of Christianity, the story is also a warning of the challenges waiting for those who follow Jesus.  Your eyes may be opened, but much of the world is ruled by those who are unaware of their blind spots.

Still, Celidonius took a chance. The blind man didn’t come to Jesus, but Jesus came to him. Celidonius heard the voice, “I am the Light of the World.” Celidonius certainly didn’t know Jesus.  He recognized simply that someone was showing him respect and honor and care.  And so, in spite of his poverty and blindness, in spite of his hopelessness and the ridicule of the crowds, he took a chance and he allowed Jesus to touch him.  He allowed him to place the saving dust and spittle upon his eyes.  And then he went to the Pool of Siloam and he was healed.  A spiritual awakening often begins with simple things we may not understand. What is that simple task that you are being invited to do?  Your spiritual journey begins by taking a chance.

Second, you must be prepared that people will doubt you. For those who are struggling to turn their lives around personal change doesn’t come easily. No one believed that Celidonius was the same blind man. His own neighbors couldn’t be sure it was him. They never questioned that he could see, but they questioned how he had changed. For you, there will always be those who doubt you. People will see what they want to see. They will doubt your motives, your actions, and your intent to be a new person. They will question who you are and try to lure you back to your old patterns and habits.  It will be easy to follow and fall away. In these moments you must be prepared to be strong to your convictions and to seek the sources that will strengthen you.  The blind man nobly confessed, in spite of all the doubts swirling about him, “One thing I do know, once I was blind, but now I see.” My friends, what is that one fundamental truth that you can cling to when men and women doubt the sincerity of your faith? Yes, you too must be prepared to make your confession, even when people doubt.

And finally, remember that loyalty to Jesus has its price   Your Christian witness may not always be welcome in a hostile world.  Even those you know and love have their blind spots. Remember that Christian loyalty is a double-edged sword.  If your Christian witness separates you from your neighbors, your witness will bring you closer to Jesus Christ.  Jesus is always faithful to the ones who are true to him. And so we read that when Jesus heard that the religious leaders had driven Celidonius out of the Temple, he went and found him. Yes, the young man was surprised that his daring to take a chance, his courageous persistence in the face of doubt, and his loyalty to the unknown man, would drive him out of the Temple.  But he wasn’t surprised when Jesus came back to him.  “Lord, I believe,” he said and he worshiped him.  Courage, faith, and destiny, you see, are all matters of choice.  Sadly, blind spots do not always disappear.

What is the price of Christ’s loyalty to you, my friend?  Our Savior offered himself upon the cross, so that you could see and believe.  He offered himself upon the cross, so that you could be free to begin again- if you will have him.  Your future is all a matter of courageous choices, and what you choose to see.

Apparently Celidonius did not stop proclaiming the wondrous things that Jesus had done that day.  According to tradition he was one of the 72 apostles Jesus sent forth to the ends of the earth.  After Jesus’ resurrection, during a time of increased persecution, Celidonius along with other Christian refugees from Palestine, sailed across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe where he settled in present day France.  There according to tradition, Celidonius died after having established the church in Nimes. And in the Basilique of Sainte Marie Madeleine in a town in Provence, there is a shrine with a skull reputedly belonging to Celidonius. Below the shrine is the following inscription.  Saint Sidoine, blind at birth, healed by Jesus, the Gospel of St. John the 9^th chapter.

My friends, people today still see what they want to see- even when they look at you.  If you concentrate on evil, you’ll discover it all around you, and probably end up afraid and depressed. Instead, Jesus encourages you to beware of your blind spots and look to him and seek his light. The world needs courageous men and women. And God needs you to do that work. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.