We love to play the blame game. If something goes wrong or there is a problem of some sort, the first things we do is look for where to place the blame. In this week's Gospel story, we learn that this is not a new or even historically recent thing. As Jesus and his disciples are walking along, they happen upon a man who is blind. The Gospel writer even makes it clear this man had been blind since birth, which suggests there are no obvious signs of injury that could be blamed. Instead, the first thing the disciples ask is "who sinned to cause his blindness - the man or his parents?"
So my first thought here is what sin the disciples thought this man could have committed to cause him to be blind since birth. Was it the very act of being born that they thought was sinful? Or perhaps more likely did they think this was some sort of preemptive strike on God's part? "I know that guy is going to sin, so let's just throw a little blindness his way now." Surely this man didn't just happen to be born blind. Someone must have done something in order for God to afflict him that way.
More than two thousand years, and we still love to play this game. We watch it on TV, we play it at home, and we love to incorporate it into our politics.
In the TV show Vikings, Ragnar plans an invasion of Paris and leads his people up the river towards the island city. As they lay siege to the fortress, both sides pray for success. The Christians cowering inside the castle wonder if this invasion is a punishment for some wrong on their part or if God is testing them. When Ragnar is injured and falls ill, Floki suggests the Norse gods are angry because of Ragnar's friendship with a Christian priest from England.
In real life, everyday, we express our scorn for those who live in poverty ("they're lazy"), our disgust at those we perceive as overweight ("they need to exercise"), our disdain for those living with illnesses both seen and unseen ("it's they're own fault"). Sound familiar yet?
As is his way, though, Jesus doesn't play along. Instead, he simply says "neither this man nor his parents sinned." Jesus then refers again to his purpose in the world before proceeding to heal the man. By his example, Jesus says that blame doesn't matter in the immediate moment. What matters first is meeting peoples needs - healing the sick, feeding the hungry, etc. Once needs are met you move to dealing with power structures - the authorities that feel the need to keep everyone in their place, the structures that fail to meet people's needs, etc.
After he is able to see, the man is brought before the authorities. Rather than rejoice that he is now able to see, the best they can think of is to get mad at Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. Reminds me a bit of blaming the person that leaked information that got someone in trouble rather than dealing with the wrongdoing itself, but I digress.
What are we doing to assist those in need? How are we following the example of Jesus? Are we okay with continuing to blame the poor for being poor, or are we ready to step up to meet their needs and change the structures that put them there? Are we okay with continuing to accuse those who are ill as if they have done something wrong, or are we ready to step up and see them healed and supported?
In the end, the answer it the same for us as it was for Jesus and as it was for Ragnar on the show Vikings. After their returning to their own lands from Paris, Floki is punished for murdering Ragnar's friend the priest, Atehlstan. Ragnar still considers Floki his friend, but he knows he must be punished. In a visions, Athelstan appears to Ragnar and says the word mercy. Ragnar took this as a sign to offer Floki mercy.
In this week's Gospel story, Jesus models mercy.
In our lives as Christians, we are called daily to offer mercy.