Looking into the lectionary - An update in the co-mod election

John 9:1-41 Fourth Sunday in Lent March 15, 2026 John reports only seven miracles in his gospel, though he never uses the word miracle. He calls them signs — events that point beyond themselves. A sign gives direction; it reveals who Jesus truly is. The sign in John 9:1–41 is a miracle of sight for the blind. When I read John 9, I notice Jesus doesn’t just heal the man’s eyes. He uses mud. Does he sculpt new eyes? This isn’t the first time human body parts have been formed from dust. In Genesis, God shapes humans from the “dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7). This sign in John reveals Jesus as Creator. Born with a disability in ancient times, this man — whom I will call “Daniel” — is doomed to a life of begging. There were many beggars along the roads, and society had grown desensitized to them. Notice how the disciples speak about “Daniel” as if he isn’t there, asking Jesus a theological question about him while he is standing before them. Jesus is never desensitized to suffering. Not content to debate, he restores “Daniel’s” sight. But the healing goes deeper. Jesus gives him eyes to see who he truly is and what God is doing in the world. The healing is not only physical but spiritual. Several “spiritual eye” healings emerge in this passage. When Jesus gives new eyes, we move from assigning blame to offering help. When problems arise — in church, family or society — our instinct is to blame. “Who sinned?” the disciples ask. “No one sinned,” Jesus replies, dismantling the assumption that suffering must be someone’s fault. The issue is not what Daniel or his parents did, but what we will do now. Not who is at fault, but who will act. There are so many people ready to assign blame and not enough people willing to help. Jesus takes it a step further. Not only is this problem not anyone’s fault, but it will help to reveal the glory of God.... Thank you to this week's writer, Tracey Davenport. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Want the worship resources for March 8, 2026? You can find them here. Order of worship — March 15, 2026 by Tracey Davenport Should churches respond to online outrage? by Trip Porch  When foster youth age out, one WV church shows up by John Bolt Two new candidates stand for co-moderator of GA227 by Mike Ferguson What can a vigil teach us about empathy? by Maggie Alsup Presbyterian politicians mix faith with their civic service by Gregg Brekke IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Faith leaders form rapid response network for migrants facing ICE detention in Dallas Multi-faith clergy in the Dallas–Fort Worth area are providing pastoral care, bearing witness, and organizing resistance as asylum seekers are detained during routine ICE check-ins. — Harriet Riley Discussion guide for February 2026 issue In each issue of the Outlook, we include a discussion guide to further reflect on the issue. We recommend using this guide in your Bible study, small group or book club. It's our invitation into a faithful conversation. — Don Griggs Dear Marty, We Crapped In Our Nest: Notes from the Edge of the World Alfred Walker reviews Art Cullen’s "Dear Marty, We Crapped In Our Nest," a sobering look at climate change, farming and red-state politics. Without weeping, there is no raising Empathy is the heart of our covenantal relationship with one another, proclaims Chris Henry. What we lose when confessions are treated as optional Keanu Heydari pens a response to Charles Wiley’s “Why the PC(USA)’s Book of Confessions is too long — and how to fix it.” Why Christian clergy see risk as part of their moral calling Clergy sometimes place themselves in harm’s way for moral and religious reasons. A scholar of religious ethics explains when – and why. — Laura E. Alexander A new four-session Fresh Outlook Bible Studies In a moment when empathy is often misunderstood — and sometimes dismissed as weakness — “On the Road to Empathy” invites churches to return to Scripture and rediscover empathy as a deeply Christian practice.