Mar. 11, 2018 - Fourth Sunday in Lent - "A" Cycle
May the Lord continue to open your eyes of faith so that you may see more clearly all that GOD would have you see and may you respond with confidence of being in the Light!
Vision is a blessing. The ability to see is a gift from GOD. And physical sight is only symbolic of the more important spiritual vision which GOD gives us. I know a particular blind friend who often “sees” more clearly than I do. She sees with the inner insight and sense GOD’s presence in a marvelous way. All of us our called to one day share the Beatific Vision of being able to see GOD face to face. We can begin experiencing the Beatific Vision now if we are open to what GOD is enabling us to see. Let us continue to pray that the Lord Jesus will open our eyes of faith!
May the Lord continue to open your eyes of faith so that you may see more clearly all that GOD would have you see and may you respond with confidence of being in the Light!
Vision is a blessing. The ability to see is a gift from GOD. And physical sight is only symbolic of the more important spiritual vision which GOD gives us. I know a particular blind friend who often “sees” more clearly than I do. She sees with the inner insight and sense GOD’s presence in a marvelous way. All of us our called to one day share the Beatific Vision of being able to see GOD face to face. We can begin experiencing the Beatific Vision now if we are open to what GOD is enabling us to see. Let us continue to pray that the Lord Jesus will open our eyes of faith!
Readings can be obtained from: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/031118-year-a.cfm
Saint John Ogilvie: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-john-ogilvie/
Readings: 1 Samuel 16: 1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6;
Ephesians 5: 8-14; John 9: 1-41
How’s your sight? Our readings speak about seeing not just with human vision, but also with the eyes of GOD. The first reading describes what GOD sees in the person of David. The responsorial psalm is the familiar Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” In his letter to the Ephesians, Saint Paul describes the darkness which unbelievers once experienced and how that has changed to light which gives sight because of their acceptance of faith. In the Gospel, Jesus gives not only physical sight to a blind man, but also new spiritual vision to him.
In today’s first reading Samuel and Jesse do not see very clearly, at least not at first. They are looking with merely human eyes and not the way that GOD sees. GOD sees beyond the superficial, into the depths of a person. Of all Jesse’s sons, David is seen as the least likely candidate to be the king for Israel. He is the youngest of eight brothers. Yet GOD sees something which mere mortals could not see. GOD calls David from shepherding sheep to shepherding GOD’s Chosen People.
The psalmist, either David or some one who thinks like David, speaks of GOD as a shepherd. GOD cares for the divine flock and protects each member of that flock as they walk through the valley of darkness. GOD provides food – rich, choice food – for those who turn to the LORD, their Shepherd.
In the second reading, St. Paul reminds his readers (including us) that they (we) were once in darkness but are now called to leave the dark ways behind and receive the light which Christ gives them (us). The paths of darkness include vain deeds, shameful activities, and things which should not even be mentioned (so Paul does not mention them, but I’m sure we can think of many activities which would fit into the category). Paul urges believers to walk in the light and to see clearly what sort of lives they must live.
The Gospel passage today is one we have heard many times. It is filled with powerful imageries. A man born blind becomes the center of attention. First he is the cause of the apostles’ questioning Jesus about the reason for his blindness. The apostles want to blame it on the personal sin of the blind man or the sin of his parents. Jesus reassures His disciples that blindness is not a punishment from GOD for personal wrongdoings; blindness (and any other physical handicap) is part of the human condition which people experience in their lives.
Jesus begins the healing process and the giving of sight by making a mud and saliva paste and applying it to the blind man’s eyes. The process takes a while before the man sees completely. He is sent to the Pool of Siloam (which means “the sent one”) to wash away his blindness.
After his healing, people cannot believe that the former blind man is the same person. And in some ways they are right, he is not the same blind person, he is now a person with sight. His life is changed in many ways – some very rich and exciting, some challenging and difficult. He will never be the person he was before, for now he “sees” and more will be asked of him because of his new sight.
Since he had been healed on the Sabbath, the former blind man is questioned by the religious leadership. The blind man relates what happened and the fact that he can now see. He is not sure exactly where Jesus is, or even what Jesus looks like, after all the last time he was with Jesus, he was blind.
The leaders call in the man’s parents and question them. The blind man’s parents are afraid to say much more than he is their son and he was born blind. They don’t want to get involved and risk having to lose their place in the community.
The man is brought in again and this time he boldly speaks about his sight. He has probably had time to reflect on what sight now means to him. He is seeing what happened to him in much more clear way, not just in physical sense, but in a intellectual and spiritual sense. He is not afraid to even challenge those who question him.
After his dismissal and being kicked out of the religious assembly, he meets Jesus Who invites him into a closer relationship. Jesus reveals His true identity and mission. The man responds with faith and with a desire to deepen the relationship with Jesus. The Gospel ends with Jesus challenging the religious leaders who refuse to admit their blindness to the truth.
The passage uses the imagery of sight and blindness to speak of the deeper reality of spiritual sight (faith) and spiritual blindness (faithlessness or false religiosity). The personal question for each of us is where are we in the passage? With whom do we identify?
Some people may see themselves as the apostles who misunderstand the cause of suffering and hardships. We want quick, simple answers to what’s going on and why there are problems in the world. We may want to blame someone for the wrongs in the world, even blaming GOD. After all, its easier to blame others than to get involved and reach out with compassion, as Jesus does.
Others of us may be like the blind man at the beginning of the account. We cannot see anything. We sit around waiting for others to take care of us. We have no idea how beautiful things can be if we had sight. We are in the darkness of our depraved condition. We did not choose this condition, yet that is where we are. So we try to make the best of our situation, relying on others to provide for us, since we are in the dark.
The next situation with which some may identify is that of the man after Jesus has smeared the paste on our eyes. We start to sense something is about to happen. We have been touched by Jesus, but are not sure what it all means. We are sent on our way to continue the healing process. We have received the gift of faith, we respond to the Lord Jesus’ command, but we are still not sure how it is all going to turn out.
The position of the neighbors and friends (who see the blind man and react with disbelief) may resonate with others of us. We cannot, or will not, believe that GOD can act mysteriously and miraculously in other people’s lives, especially those whom we thought were outcast and sinners. We question anyone who says they have been touched by GOD. We may think they are “touched” alright, but not by GOD.
Others of us may be like the parents. We don’t want to risk losing our position by changing our understanding of how GOD works. We are comfortable in the situation in which we are. We don’t want to stand up for anyone, even our closest relatives or friends, if it means it may cost us something personally. We shift the attention away from us, so we don’t have to be in the spotlight and take the heat.
Others of us may be like the blind man near the end of the story. We have begun to see more clearly. We receive another invitation from the Lord Jesus to go further in our relationship with GOD. It looks like the obvious choice now that we are seeing clearly, but we need to be strengthened in taking the next step.
And then there is possibility that at times we may be like the religious leaders. We think we have this whole “GOD thing” down. We want to tell GOD what GOD should be doing. We have put GOD into our little box. We think we can control how GOD acts by our actions and our words. We think we see the whole picture clearly, but we are the most blind of all, because we have chosen only to see GOD the way we want to see GOD. And therefore we don’t see GOD at all.
Today is a great day for us to look at our spiritual vision. How do we see our relationship with GOD? Do we need to have our spiritual eyesight checked? GOD moves in mysterious ways, and as soon as we think we see Who GOD is, GOD appears in a different manner which will escape our sight. Are we humble enough to admit our spiritual blindness? We should ask GOD to remove those things which hinder our sight. We need to continue to petition the Lord Jesus to open our eyes of faith so that we can see with divine vision. It can be scary. We will have to change our lifestyles and live differently, but when we begin to see as GOD sees, we will be amazed at what we had not been able to see before. We will then ask GOD to help us see more and we will praise GOD for the gift of sight.
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, ever visible, yet also hidden. Through Your GOoDness, You continue to heal us of our blindness. You desire that we clearly see You and Your plan for our lives. We often want the healing according to our plans – immediate and full, yet You remind us that it is often a process of seeing more clearly, step by step. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, give us the patience and strength to open our eyes more and more. May we follow the vision of Jesus, Your Son, Who has come as the Light of the World, the One Who enlightens others. We thank You and praise You for giving us the insights to see our own blindness and admit our need for Your healing. This we ask in and through Jesus, Your Son and our Brother, The Healer of the spiritually and physically blind, the Light of the world, Who is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, for ever and ever. Amen.
Song of the Day: The Blind Man’s Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BigCCPRFh9M
Song of the Man Born Blind by Bob Hurd:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_DT2xjGsB8
The Man Born Blind by Marty Haugen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgiBrTlZct0
Video of the Day: St. John Ogilvie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feCY3Bn_7-E
© rjk, 01-07-18
To Download the .pdf version of this reflection click on the link below:
Saint John Ogilvie: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-john-ogilvie/
Readings: 1 Samuel 16: 1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6;
Ephesians 5: 8-14; John 9: 1-41
How’s your sight? Our readings speak about seeing not just with human vision, but also with the eyes of GOD. The first reading describes what GOD sees in the person of David. The responsorial psalm is the familiar Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” In his letter to the Ephesians, Saint Paul describes the darkness which unbelievers once experienced and how that has changed to light which gives sight because of their acceptance of faith. In the Gospel, Jesus gives not only physical sight to a blind man, but also new spiritual vision to him.
In today’s first reading Samuel and Jesse do not see very clearly, at least not at first. They are looking with merely human eyes and not the way that GOD sees. GOD sees beyond the superficial, into the depths of a person. Of all Jesse’s sons, David is seen as the least likely candidate to be the king for Israel. He is the youngest of eight brothers. Yet GOD sees something which mere mortals could not see. GOD calls David from shepherding sheep to shepherding GOD’s Chosen People.
The psalmist, either David or some one who thinks like David, speaks of GOD as a shepherd. GOD cares for the divine flock and protects each member of that flock as they walk through the valley of darkness. GOD provides food – rich, choice food – for those who turn to the LORD, their Shepherd.
In the second reading, St. Paul reminds his readers (including us) that they (we) were once in darkness but are now called to leave the dark ways behind and receive the light which Christ gives them (us). The paths of darkness include vain deeds, shameful activities, and things which should not even be mentioned (so Paul does not mention them, but I’m sure we can think of many activities which would fit into the category). Paul urges believers to walk in the light and to see clearly what sort of lives they must live.
The Gospel passage today is one we have heard many times. It is filled with powerful imageries. A man born blind becomes the center of attention. First he is the cause of the apostles’ questioning Jesus about the reason for his blindness. The apostles want to blame it on the personal sin of the blind man or the sin of his parents. Jesus reassures His disciples that blindness is not a punishment from GOD for personal wrongdoings; blindness (and any other physical handicap) is part of the human condition which people experience in their lives.
Jesus begins the healing process and the giving of sight by making a mud and saliva paste and applying it to the blind man’s eyes. The process takes a while before the man sees completely. He is sent to the Pool of Siloam (which means “the sent one”) to wash away his blindness.
After his healing, people cannot believe that the former blind man is the same person. And in some ways they are right, he is not the same blind person, he is now a person with sight. His life is changed in many ways – some very rich and exciting, some challenging and difficult. He will never be the person he was before, for now he “sees” and more will be asked of him because of his new sight.
Since he had been healed on the Sabbath, the former blind man is questioned by the religious leadership. The blind man relates what happened and the fact that he can now see. He is not sure exactly where Jesus is, or even what Jesus looks like, after all the last time he was with Jesus, he was blind.
The leaders call in the man’s parents and question them. The blind man’s parents are afraid to say much more than he is their son and he was born blind. They don’t want to get involved and risk having to lose their place in the community.
The man is brought in again and this time he boldly speaks about his sight. He has probably had time to reflect on what sight now means to him. He is seeing what happened to him in much more clear way, not just in physical sense, but in a intellectual and spiritual sense. He is not afraid to even challenge those who question him.
After his dismissal and being kicked out of the religious assembly, he meets Jesus Who invites him into a closer relationship. Jesus reveals His true identity and mission. The man responds with faith and with a desire to deepen the relationship with Jesus. The Gospel ends with Jesus challenging the religious leaders who refuse to admit their blindness to the truth.
The passage uses the imagery of sight and blindness to speak of the deeper reality of spiritual sight (faith) and spiritual blindness (faithlessness or false religiosity). The personal question for each of us is where are we in the passage? With whom do we identify?
Some people may see themselves as the apostles who misunderstand the cause of suffering and hardships. We want quick, simple answers to what’s going on and why there are problems in the world. We may want to blame someone for the wrongs in the world, even blaming GOD. After all, its easier to blame others than to get involved and reach out with compassion, as Jesus does.
Others of us may be like the blind man at the beginning of the account. We cannot see anything. We sit around waiting for others to take care of us. We have no idea how beautiful things can be if we had sight. We are in the darkness of our depraved condition. We did not choose this condition, yet that is where we are. So we try to make the best of our situation, relying on others to provide for us, since we are in the dark.
The next situation with which some may identify is that of the man after Jesus has smeared the paste on our eyes. We start to sense something is about to happen. We have been touched by Jesus, but are not sure what it all means. We are sent on our way to continue the healing process. We have received the gift of faith, we respond to the Lord Jesus’ command, but we are still not sure how it is all going to turn out.
The position of the neighbors and friends (who see the blind man and react with disbelief) may resonate with others of us. We cannot, or will not, believe that GOD can act mysteriously and miraculously in other people’s lives, especially those whom we thought were outcast and sinners. We question anyone who says they have been touched by GOD. We may think they are “touched” alright, but not by GOD.
Others of us may be like the parents. We don’t want to risk losing our position by changing our understanding of how GOD works. We are comfortable in the situation in which we are. We don’t want to stand up for anyone, even our closest relatives or friends, if it means it may cost us something personally. We shift the attention away from us, so we don’t have to be in the spotlight and take the heat.
Others of us may be like the blind man near the end of the story. We have begun to see more clearly. We receive another invitation from the Lord Jesus to go further in our relationship with GOD. It looks like the obvious choice now that we are seeing clearly, but we need to be strengthened in taking the next step.
And then there is possibility that at times we may be like the religious leaders. We think we have this whole “GOD thing” down. We want to tell GOD what GOD should be doing. We have put GOD into our little box. We think we can control how GOD acts by our actions and our words. We think we see the whole picture clearly, but we are the most blind of all, because we have chosen only to see GOD the way we want to see GOD. And therefore we don’t see GOD at all.
Today is a great day for us to look at our spiritual vision. How do we see our relationship with GOD? Do we need to have our spiritual eyesight checked? GOD moves in mysterious ways, and as soon as we think we see Who GOD is, GOD appears in a different manner which will escape our sight. Are we humble enough to admit our spiritual blindness? We should ask GOD to remove those things which hinder our sight. We need to continue to petition the Lord Jesus to open our eyes of faith so that we can see with divine vision. It can be scary. We will have to change our lifestyles and live differently, but when we begin to see as GOD sees, we will be amazed at what we had not been able to see before. We will then ask GOD to help us see more and we will praise GOD for the gift of sight.
- The personal question/action for today: With which character(s) in the Gospel account do I most identify? What does my identification with the character(s) say about my spiritual life? In what areas of my life is there darkness and lack of vision? What can I do to ask GOD to enlighten me about this darkness? How can I help give new insights to those who still seem to be in darkness without acting with a “better-than-thou” attitude?
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, ever visible, yet also hidden. Through Your GOoDness, You continue to heal us of our blindness. You desire that we clearly see You and Your plan for our lives. We often want the healing according to our plans – immediate and full, yet You remind us that it is often a process of seeing more clearly, step by step. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, give us the patience and strength to open our eyes more and more. May we follow the vision of Jesus, Your Son, Who has come as the Light of the World, the One Who enlightens others. We thank You and praise You for giving us the insights to see our own blindness and admit our need for Your healing. This we ask in and through Jesus, Your Son and our Brother, The Healer of the spiritually and physically blind, the Light of the world, Who is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, for ever and ever. Amen.
Song of the Day: The Blind Man’s Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BigCCPRFh9M
Song of the Man Born Blind by Bob Hurd:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_DT2xjGsB8
The Man Born Blind by Marty Haugen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgiBrTlZct0
Video of the Day: St. John Ogilvie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feCY3Bn_7-E
© rjk, 01-07-18
To Download the .pdf version of this reflection click on the link below:
mar._11_2018_-_lent_-_4_-_s_-_a.pdf | |
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