March 24, 2017

Seeing, Feeling, Acting

Larry J. Peacock | Read Ephesians 5:8-14

(Image: Pixabay)

In the first three chapters of Ephesians, Paul stresses that
Christ’s death and resurrection have opened the way for
Gentiles to draw near to God because the “dividing wall” (see
Ephesians 2:14) has been broken down. The last three chapters
give instruction on how to live as followers of this inclusive,
welcoming Christ. Paul uses contrasting dualisms to point out
the different ways to live: light and darkness, good and bad,
pleasing and unpleasing to God.

Live as children of light. Be children growing up under the
loving care and wise guidance of the faith community. Be like
children—curious, joyful, energetic, and rejoicing in what is
good and right and true. Discover what pleases God. Let your
actions reflect God’s grace and love.

Several years ago, a freak Halloween snowstorm knocked
out the power in New England homes for many days. My family
learned how difficult it was to live in the dark. We were cautious
and hesitant in the dark, frustrated and short-tempered.
Our productivity declined because of the darkness: All our cell
phones, laptops, and everything else that ran on electricity ran
out of power. We valued open restaurants only if they had a
place to plug in so we could check in. We gained a new appreciation
for living in light.

It may not be too far a stretch to think that naming and
opposing the darkness of evil, injustice, and oppression will
be pleasing to God. Shining a light to expose the darkness of
poverty, war, and racism surely pleases God. Children of the
light—the opposite of self-pleasing, self-centered people of
darkness—seek to bring all individuals and systems into the
beloved community of God.

God of truth, awaken me to your love and light, within me and around me. Teach me to walk paths of justice, care for the least and lost, and stand up for what is right. Amen.

Pray the Scriptures Using Audio Lectio
Read John 9:1-41

John 9:1-41

¹ As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who was blind from birth. ² Jesus’ disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned so that he was born blind, this man or his parents?” ³ Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents. This happened so that God’s mighty works might be displayed in him. ⁴ While it’s daytime, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶ After he said this, he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and smeared the mud on the man’s eyes. ⁷ Jesus said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (this word means sent). So the man went away and washed. When he returned, he could see. ⁸ The man’s neighbors and those who used to see him when he was a beggar said, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?” ⁹ Some said, “It is,” and others said, “No, it’s someone who looks like him.” But the man said, “Yes, it’s me!” ¹⁰ So they asked him, “How are you now able to see?” ¹¹ He answered, “The man they call Jesus made mud, smeared it on my eyes, and said, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and then I could see.” ¹² They asked, “Where is this man?” He replied, “I don’t know.” ¹³ Then they led the man who had been born blind to the Pharisees. ¹⁴ Now Jesus made the mud and smeared it on the man’s eyes on a Sabbath day. ¹⁵ So Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. The man told them, “He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and now I see.” ¹⁶ Some Pharisees said, “This man isn’t from God, because he breaks the Sabbath law.” Others said, “How can a sinner do miraculous signs like these?” So they were divided. ¹⁷ Some of the Pharisees questioned the man who had been born blind again: “What do you have to say about him, since he healed your eyes?” He replied, “He’s a prophet.” ¹⁸ The Jewish leaders didn’t believe the man had been blind and received his sight until they called for his parents. ¹⁹ The Jewish leaders asked them, “Is this your son? Are you saying he was born blind? How can he now see?” ²⁰ His parents answered, “We know he is our son. We know he was born blind. ²¹ But we don’t know how he now sees, and we don’t know who healed his eyes. Ask him. He’s old enough to speak for himself.” ²² His parents said this because they feared the Jewish authorities. This is because the Jewish authorities had already decided that whoever confessed Jesus to be the Christ would be expelled from the synagogue. ²³ That’s why his parents said, “He’s old enough. Ask him.” ²⁴ Therefore, they called a second time for the man who had been born blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know this man is a sinner.” ²⁵ The man answered, “I don’t know whether he’s a sinner. Here’s what I do know: I was blind and now I see.” ²⁶ They questioned him: “What did he do to you? How did he heal your eyes?” ²⁷ He replied, “I already told you, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” ²⁸ They insulted him: “You are his disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. ²⁹ We know that God spoke to Moses, but we don’t know where this man is from.” ³⁰ The man answered, “This is incredible! You don’t know where he is from, yet he healed my eyes! ³¹ We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners. God listens to anyone who is devout and does God’s will. ³² No one has ever heard of a healing of the eyes of someone born blind. ³³ If this man wasn’t from God, he couldn’t do this.” ³⁴ They responded, “You were born completely in sin! How is it that you dare to teach us?” Then they expelled him. ³⁵ Jesus heard they had expelled the man born blind. Finding him, Jesus said, “Do you believe in the Human One?” ³⁶ He answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.” ³⁷ Jesus said, “You have seen him. In fact, he is the one speaking with you.” ³⁸ The man said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshipped Jesus. ³⁹ Jesus said, “I have come into the world to exercise judgment so that those who don’t see can see and those who see will become blind.” ⁴⁰ Some Pharisees who were with him heard what he said and asked, “Surely we aren’t blind, are we?” ⁴¹ Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you wouldn’t have any sin, but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

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Lectionary Week

March 20–26, 2017

Scripture Overview

First Samuel 16 reminds us of the bold risk that Yahweh took in the anointing of this young and unheralded shepherd. If 1 Samuel 16 causes us to wonder about the adequacy of all human shepherds, Psalm 23 reassures us that one Shepherd never fails. The New Testament passages consider the tension between light and darkness as a metaphor for the conflict between good and evil. In Ephesians 5, the struggle has already been resolved but takes seriously the continuing problem of sin. By means of the love and presence of Jesus Christ, even the power of evil cannot withstand the light. Then John 9 emphasizes the power of Christ as a bringer of light in the story of the man born blind.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13. How often do you allow external appearances to affect your decisions? In what ways are you learning to look on the heart?
• Read Psalm 23. When do you take time for yourself by slowing your pace, breathing deeply, and allowing God to restore your soul? How might this become a daily habit?
• Read Ephesians 5:8-14. How do you discover what pleases God? How does your living reflect your discovery?
• Read John 9:1-41. When have you experienced a “healing” that brought you back into community—either at home, work, or faith setting?

Respond by posting a prayer.

This season, Whitney R. Simpson has given us the gift we must open: a clear, accessible invitation to connect with the divine spark that is within us. This is the best present: being present for Jesus’ birth, God made human.”

Learn more about our newest Advent resource, Fully Human, Fully Divine here.

—J. Dana Trent, author of One Breath at a Time: A Skeptic’s Guide to Christian Meditation

Seeing, Feeling, Acting

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Ephesians 5:8-14

John 9:1-41

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