Flies, Not Bees

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide Do you have eyes to see and ears to hear? Jesus frequently asked this question of the crowds that gathered to listen to him—not because he doubted whether they were paying attention but because he wanted to know if their hearts were open to receive his message.  Many who had the chance to meet Jesus in person and ask him questions either dismissed him or saw him as a threat. They wrote off the Son of God, even though he was right in their midst. In his parable about a Pharisee whose confidence blinded him and a tax collector whose humble heart allowed him to truly see, Jesus shows us that those who are most at risk of missing God are the ones who think they have Him all figured out.  We all have assumptions about who God is and how He works, but what happens when these assumptions limit how we encounter God? In this sermon, we’ll reflect on spiritual blind spots and consider how embracing childlike humility can open us to the surprising ways God works in our lives.