Bible Text: John 9:1-12 | Preacher: Pastor Chris Marien | We are living in this time of expectation nobody had just months ago. Expectations we have never seen. Schools closed. Roads open and little traffic. I cannot stop the virus from spreading except in small ways by my own actions. I cannot stop people from getting sick or dying – but I can pray for those who are sick or compromised or afraid. I cannot change the expectations that continue to bombard me – with regard to quarantines and teaching my children at home and shelter-in-place rules. I can give thanks for this life. For family. For friends. For technology – that allows me to communicate God’s love and peace with each of you. For every breath and every moment where I am reminded that God loves me just as God loves each of you.

God is meeting all the expectations nobody had this day. I wonder, are you paying attention to the little details of these days? The return of the cardinals and robins to trees around us. The greening of grass. The rise of green stems of tulips and daffodils. For me always a sign of the promise of resurrection. My friends, new life is coming. As it has been promised to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus – new life is coming. You only need to look for moments of resurrection joy all around you. This, each of us can do. There is hope for everyone. Like the blind man who was given back his sight by the hand of our Savior, so too, has God given to each of us the promise of seeing new life. If only we will lift up our heads and open our eyes and trust the promise of new life made again and again by our God.