October 24, 2019

One of the consequences of Original Sin is the onset of spiritual myopia. Technically, myopia is simply nearsightedness and is correctable with a good set of glasses. Metaphorically, myopia is inability to see anything else that is not right in front of your nose. Myopic people (all of us!) see a set of close up “facts” and draw all kinds of hard-set conclusions, ignoring (blind to) the teeming universe of other factors at play in any given situation.

As I mentioned, this affliction has been with us since the dawn of time. This is why the Apostle Paul reminds us that, “we walk by faith and not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) Earlier he says, “we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)And finally, the author of the letter to the Hebrews tells us that “faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

We only see in part, but thankfully, God sees the Big Picture.

“O God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen” (The Transfiguration – BCP p. 243)