Last week we had the story of the man whose ears were opened. Now many times in Mark, when one encounters a story about a deaf person or blind person being healed, it functions as a preface to a particular teaching episode with Jesus. When one sees a deaf man healed, look to see if in the next passage, Jesus works with his disciples in ways that suggest that perhaps they didn't hear what he was trying to teach them. In the same way, the story today hinges on the healing of a blind man- a very strange healing, a two-part healing. Jesus spit in a man's eyes, - both of them. but he was not healed immediately. He first "saw men as trees walking" - in other words, he could tell that there were figures in front of him, but they were blurred - indistinct. He couldn't make them out.

So Jesus spit in his eyes again, and this time, he saw clearly.

Today's story in Mark is an example of the disciples seeing only in part - they did not see the truth clearly - but saw only a shadow, a first impression of the truth.

Jesus and the 12 are on their way to Caesarea Philippi - a long walk from where they had just been, and along the way, they discussed the impressions people had of Jesus. Some thought he was Elijah, some John the Baptist, some a prophet. Peter, functioning as the voice of the disciples saw the truth: that Jesus was the Messiah, the anointed one who was sent from God to save Israel. What he failed to see was the way that salvation would come about.

Jesus began to tell the disciples how all of this would come down - he would go to Jerusalem, and be arrested, tried, condemned, and crucified, and then be raised on the third day. I don't know if the disciples heard the part about resurrection. Its very possible that they stopped listening fully when Jesus mentioned …. Death….cross. And Peter took him aside. Perhaps he was giving Jesus a pep talk - but he got a barrelful in return -

For he saw men as trees walking - he saw just a shadow of truth, - Jesus was NOT the Messiah King who would overthrow the Romans and restore Jerusalem to Israel. Jesus was the Suffering servant, who would save us all, through an immense act of love.

Jesus took the moment to talk to the disciples - "If you're going to follow me, get used to this idea of the cross -

In fact, plan on picking up your own. Because the way to the Kingdom of God is through Crucifixion. Pick up your cross, deny yourself, and follow. Take on the willingness to die with Me. - to be identified with me, not only in life, but in death.

It took awhile for the disciples to see the truth - in fact, they didn't see until after Jesus rose from the dead - and then they indeed picked up their crosses - some literally - many died as martyrs for Christ. All lived for him, and said with the apostle Paul: For me, to live is Christ…

Today it is unlikely that many of us will die for our faith. Yet we are called to follow Christ in the same way the disciples were - to pick up our cross, to identify with the Crucified one, and to follow Jesus.

We are called, indeed, to walk in love, as Christ loved us. Those are familiar words, part of an offertory sentence that is said each week before the Eucharist.Walk in Love as Christ loved us, and gave himself for us, and offering and sacrifice to God. For that is what we are called to. To pick up the cross means to walk in love - to take on the path that Jesus took - walking in love for us, choosing to go to the cross as the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God, taking away the sins of the world, that we might be free from the bondage of sin and death.

Pope John Paul II wrote, "When the cross is embraced, it becomes a sign of love and total self-giving. To carry it behind Christ means to be united with him in offering the greatest proof of love."

"What, do you wish to know our Lord's Meaning in this?" wrote Dame Julian of Norwich. Know it well, love was his meaning. Love was the reason he went to the cross - love is the reason he asks us to follow behind - For the cross is paradoxically the sign that God desires good things for us. The cross shows us the way of life, the way of love, for God, for ourselves, and for our neighbor.

Here at St. James, I see love in action every day. What, do you wish to know what motivates 18 people to spend a hot Saturday over a grill, feeding hungry children in Collington Square? Love is their meaning. Do you wish to know what causes a bunch of teenagers to spend a week eating beans and doing manual labor for some orphans in Honduras? Love is their meaning. Love causes the Altar Guild to prepare for our worship with such care and deliberation. Love is the motivation behind the music of the choir. Love causes teachers at the academy to put in long hours after school.

For the way of the cross is the way of love.

Today is our ministry fair. Over in Mcdonald hall is a display of love in action in 18 different ways. Most of you are represented at one or more of those tables. Your love has caused you to pick up the cross of self-giving, and follow Christ.

There are lots of opportunities available to pick up your cross, and walk in Love. Explore your heart, and find how Christ is calling you to follow, an offering and sacrifice to God.