Thursday, March 19, 2020

Sunday Gospel Reflection, March 22, 2020: Not as man sees does God see...


Why is it so difficult to embrace God’s vision?

  Try as we might, it is hard to see the world as God sees it.  When, in the First Book of Samuel, God sends Samuel to anoint one of the sons of Jesse of Bethlehem as king to replace Saul, Jesse presents seven sons before Samuel, omitting his youngest son David, who is tending the sheep.  When David finally appears, the Lord orders Samuel to anoint him on the spot.  Where the family sees only an insignificant shepherd, an outward appearance, God looks into the heart and chooses David as king over all of Israel.

  Jesus will likewise address the Pharisees inability to see clearly when he heals the man blind from birth in John's Gospel.  The man’s blindness is an opportunity for the Pharisees’ own eye-opening conversion experience:  the blind man must be healed, Jesus says, so that the works of God might be made visible through him.  But the Pharisees remain blind:  This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath, they say of Jesus.  Whereas the blind man is healed not only physically but spiritually, ultimately recognizing Jesus and worshiping him, the Pharisees’ hearts remain closed.  Because they believe that they see, yet do not see with God’s vision, their sin remains; they are unable to turn toward the light. 

  For Jesus is, as he tells the disciples, the light of the world; he came as light so that people might see clearly, might see as God sees.  You were once darkness, Paul tells the Ephesians, but now you are light in the Lord.  Live as children of the light.  Baptism is meant to bring us to see as God sees, to see with the heart, through the eyes and understanding of the one who created all things.  We need only awaken and arise, that Christ might give us light. For Jesus is the shepherd described in Psalm 23 who guides us in right paths if our hearts are open.  And when Jesus is leading us, we can always see clearly, always see with God’s vision, and there is nothing thereafter that we shall want.

This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture class.
Image source:  www.wordclouds.com

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