Dea
r St. John's Community,
Continuing on the theme of how St. John's is a space for grace, he
re is a guest reflection by our interim associate, the Rev. Jane Milliken Hague.
Blessings,
Rob+
Yesterday’s Gospel describes Jesus healing a man who had been blind from birth. Jesus spat on some dirt and plastered the man’s eyes with it. Jesus then sent the man to the pool of Siloam (which means Sent) to wash and he returned healed. The pool was part of the massive landscape surrounding the Temple in Jerusalem. It was used as a ritual bathing area as well as a reservoir for water.
Why did Jesus send the blind man off to wash in the pool of Siloam? What is our learning here? As part of my interim rector training, Rob and I developed a project called ‘A Space for Grace’ which is to gather stories from people who found solace and grace in the church sanctuary. I have heard from a midweek worshipper who was so touched by the building that he converted to Christianity and is now going to Virginia Seminary. Others speak of finding solace in the sanctuary after the attack on 9/11. Do you have a story or impression to share? If so, please click
here
. I am collecting these for my project, which I hope will serve us all as we understand the special qualities of the space of St. John's.
In this difficult time, we now find ourselves a people deprived of our sacred space. But the power of a place is not judged by the spirit of healing there but what is sent forth. The blind man went to the pool called Siloam or Sent. His healing would not have been known unless he left the pool to testify to others of the miracle. Jesus’s power of healing was not limited to any particular location nor is the Spirit of St. John’s limited to the building. The miracles in our lives come from the open hearts of our family and friends. They come from the messages and calls from our fellow parishioners. I joke that we are setting up so many phone trees amongst our parishioners that we are creating a forest of compassion. Clusters of people are connecting through the phone, email or other platforms. If you would like to be part of this sacred arbor, please let me know by contacting me
here
.
Jane+
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