Sunday, March 02, 2008
From AscensionNYC
Fourth Sunday in Lent
by Mary Gaillard
Psalm 23
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-41
Haven't we all met someone and come to some conclusion about them based on what they look like? Are people what they seem like on the outside?
In Samuel, the Lord selects the next king of Israel from among Jesse's sons. He chooses David over all of his brothers. The people are surprised — they did not think him even a possible candidate! They are told, "The Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
In the reading from John, Jesus makes a blind man see, and even though he has performed this feat that is humanly impossible, the Pharisees and others will not accept that Jesus is from God. They refuse to believe what they see, and instead come up with another rationale: they decide that the man must not have been blind to begin with. Still incredulous, the man is questioned twice as to how he received his sight.
These passages remind us that we should be careful how we view people. We should spend more time getting to know them. Find out who they really are, not what they look like they are. And this goes for our relationship with God. Spend time with Him, pray with Him, and find Him in places and people that you least expect.
Psalm 23
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-41
Haven't we all met someone and come to some conclusion about them based on what they look like? Are people what they seem like on the outside?
In Samuel, the Lord selects the next king of Israel from among Jesse's sons. He chooses David over all of his brothers. The people are surprised — they did not think him even a possible candidate! They are told, "The Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
In the reading from John, Jesus makes a blind man see, and even though he has performed this feat that is humanly impossible, the Pharisees and others will not accept that Jesus is from God. They refuse to believe what they see, and instead come up with another rationale: they decide that the man must not have been blind to begin with. Still incredulous, the man is questioned twice as to how he received his sight.
These passages remind us that we should be careful how we view people. We should spend more time getting to know them. Find out who they really are, not what they look like they are. And this goes for our relationship with God. Spend time with Him, pray with Him, and find Him in places and people that you least expect.
