For Lent we are pausing reading the Bible beginning to end and are exploring a theme of Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John.  In today’s scripture, the encounter is with a beggar who has been blind from birth.  Jesus heals him.  But in this chapter of John, there seem to be six scenes in which Jesus only appears in the first and last scenes.  Other scenes show the Pharisees trying to figure out this situation and the parents of the healed man also trying to figure it out.  In fact, no person or group of people is shown as rejoicing that the man has been healed.  Pharisees, who discuss the situation, are divided as to who this healer might be.  When they call in the man to tell them the story, he is summarily excommunicated.  Only Jesus, in the end, has not only given the man his sight, but it is Jesus who rejoices with that man.  In our daily lives, when we encounter someone who is in pain or outside the societal norm, it is up to us to make sure Jesus does not leave the room but heals and rejoices with that person.    (NOTE: Reflecting the importance of the Word, the video begins with the scripture, but once it starts you can scroll back to the beginning of the service if you want.  The entire service is videoed.)