A sermon on the man born blind, John 9:1-41

Fr. Mike Paraniuk
HCP columnist

Jesus frequently speaks about the Kingdom of God. The Bible records these truths about the Kingdom:

1) You have to repent of your sins to enter it (Mark 1:15).

2) The Kingdom of God must be first over anything else in your life. All your needs will be met in God's Kingdom (Matthew 6:33).

3) The Kingdom of God is spiritual reality that exists in the hearts of believers (Luke 17:21).

4) The miracles of Jesus are evidence that God's Kingdom is in your midst (Matthew 12:28).

5) Jesus was sent to proclaim the Kingdom of God to everyone (Luke 4:43).

I found 100 verses about the Kingdom of God in the Bible. But nowhere did I find a definition of the Kingdom of God. Please permit my humble attempt to define the Kingdom as I understand it. 

The Kingdom of God is a "Place of Grace" where God puts His "Love into Action" to heal, bring joy, restore friendship and create peace through the Holy Spirit. This is the closest definition of the Kingdom the Bible offers, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17.)

God's Kingdom is a place "Full of Grace" where God's Love is put into action. It is a Love given to you as His gift even though you don't deserve it but God gives it anyways.

The story of the "man born blind" reveals the working of God in His Kingdom. Jesus gave meaning to this poor man's suffering. "It is so that the works of God might be made visible through him." (John 9:3.) 

Jesus did not say that He wanted this man to be born blind so that He could work a miracle. Jesus is saying that God can use all suffering as redemptive. In God's Kingdom there is no such thing as "useless suffering". Suffering has meaning and purpose if you offer it to God.

What is "redemptive suffering"? It is a prayer you offer to God for the salvation of another to have faith in Jesus as their Personal Savior. It is also an act of faith where you use your suffering to come closer to God as to share in His Glory. The Bible says, "if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him." (Romans 8:17.) Redemptive suffering offered to God can help you find peace in the midst of your cross.

I walk nine floors at Children's Hospital praying the whole day for healing of the sick kids. It is physically grueling. I have two titanium knees and one metal hip. As the day wears on the pain increases. I offer that pain to Jesus for the healing of these children, especially that child most in need of God's Grace today. I also offer it as worship to God for forgiving my sins. I ain't no saint. My mother would be the first to tell you that.

In God's Kingdom His Grace turns suffering into a channel of love. Jesus did not want the blind man to suffer. He healed him and restored his dignity as a loved child of God. God calls you to alleviate suffering wherever you find it. Like the man born blind, may I see Jesus in my cross and believe you can change it to a "Place of Grace."

Happy Lent.