Nougat 16

The Jamaica Society for the Blind has its motto painted outside the building. It reads, ‘The worst thing is to be born sighted and lack vision.’ A quote that originated with Helen Keller challenges us to activate our capacity to effect transformation beyond that which is before us. Yet, it also invites us to look beyond the surface of that which is before us to ‘see’ the reality therein. Long before Helen Keller, Luke challenged his readers to look beyond the surface. Note his play on the words ‘see’ and ‘look’ in Today’s Holy Nougat

Acts 3:3-4 CEVDCI

[3] The man saw Peter and John entering the temple, and he asked them for money.

[4] But they looked straight at him and said, “Look up at us!”

Who saw Who?

This isn’t a story about blindness in the physical sense. But it certainly challenges our vision. This pericope (segment) mentions sight thrice, each nuanced differently. Firstly, the eyes of the man ‘beheld’ Peter and John. As a beggar, he is unlikely to have seen them as ‘people’; his sight process registered almsgiver. Then, we’re told that Peter and John viewed the man intently. Some may even say they looked him in the eyes, suggesting that they met him at his level. Thirdly, they asked the man to look at them. It was a command, and an invitation to move beyond a surface glance.

Point to Ponder

Had we not known this story prior, do we see anything differently between the sightings?

Digging Deeper

In the Gospels, we sometimes see Y’shua perceiving more happening in the lives of those around Him. When the woman broke the Alabaster box to amount Him, Y’shua perceived the reaction of his host (see Luke 7:36-50). He also perceived His disciples’ distracted vying for power while He prepared them for His death see Luke 9:46. He saw what the future held for the Widow of Nain, and in compassion, resurrected her son (see Luke 7:11-17). These instances reflect Jesus perceiving beyond the veil of the ordinary and responding. The disciples are not depicted as ones who operated similarly.

Yet, after their encounter with God’s Spirit, Peter and John are presented as looking intently at the beggar. The author of the Nougat is the same Luke who portrays Jesus as seeing beyond the ordinary. Can we hear him inviting us to take a second and a third look at what and who is seen and seeing?

At this point, we do not know enough about the beggar in the story; but we know ourselves. And I suspect that Luke is inviting us to look intently at ourselves; to view our strengths and fears, our prejudices, and more importantly – what Jesus sees. We examine our strengths and fears to determine what we can do when someone invites our intervention in their lives. We examine prejudices to challenge notions that judge before proving fact. We examine what Y’shua sees – in us, or our neighbour, and the situation before us.

Then, and only then, do we attempt to act on what we see. And even then, let’s ensure that our response is governed by Christ and not our own inclination.

Self-Check

Do we look beyond the surface when interacting with others? Do we wait for Y’shua’s view in our interactions? How can His perspective transform our actions?

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May all we seek be found in Christ