Seeing the Light

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to look again as children of the light at the invitation presented by the Spirit to see our environment with the eyes of Christ.

Seeing the Light

In the reading from the First Book of Samuel, the prophet Anoints David.

* [16:1] David is anointed two more times after Saul’s death (2 Sm 2:4; 5:3). In 17:28, his brother Eliab is not aware of David’s selection. These repetitions and inconsistencies reflect the final editor’s use of multiple sources. (1 Samuel, CHAPTER 16, n.d.)

Psalm 23 proclaims the Divine Shepherd.

* [Psalm 23] God’s loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures of a shepherd for the flock (Ps 23:1–4) and a host’s generosity toward a guest (Ps 23:5–6). The imagery of both sections is drawn from traditions of the exodus (Is 40:11; 49:10; Jer 31:10). (Psalms, PSALM 23, n.d.)

The Letter to the Ephesians proclaims the Children of Light

* [5:14] An early Christian hymn, possibly from a baptismal liturgy. For the content compare Eph 2:5–6; 3:9 and Is 60:1. (Ephesians, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, a Man born blind receives sight and the Pharisees investigate the healing of Spiritual Blindness. 

* [9:1–10:21] Sabbath healing of the man born blind. This sixth sign is introduced to illustrate the saying, “I am the light of the world” (Jn 8:12; 9:5). The narrative of conflict about Jesus contrasts Jesus (light) with the Jews (blindness, Jn 9:39–41). The theme of water is reintroduced in the reference to the pool of Siloam. Ironically, Jesus is being judged by the Jews, yet the Jews are judged by the Light of the world; cf. Jn 3:19–21. (John, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)

Larry Hopp comments that the concept of God as the center of light and truth is powerfully brought home in today’s Gospel story about Jesus healing the blind man.

Dear Heavenly Father, open our eyes this day to see the world as You see it.  Help us to respond as You would respond to those You have placed in our lives.  Allow your Holy, Unquenchable Light to flow through each of us every moment, especially when life doesn’t seem fair or right.   In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen (Hopp, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “The unchangeable Light,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"I entered into my inmost self with You, Lord, as my guide - And this I was able to do because You were my helper. I entered in and saw with the eye of my soul, the unchangeable Light, very different from earthly lights. It was above my mind but not the way oil is above water or heaven above the earth. It was superior because it made me, and I inferior because I was made by it. Those who know the truth know this light, and those who know it know eternity - It is charity that knows it." (excerpt from Confessions 7,10) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 9:1-41 comments that Jesus spotted the man in his isolation and suffering and reached out to him (John 9:1). And although it took time, he came to recognize Jesus as the Lord and worshipped him (9:38).

Just as Jesus healed this man of his blindness, he has washed you clean of sin and healed your spiritual blindness in the waters of Baptism. No more stumbling in darkness—you have Jesus, the Light of the World, to guide you! No more hiding in shame over your sin—you are forgiven! No more isolation—you are a child of God and a member of his family! You may experience some lingering effects of sin, but Jesus offers you an opportunity to see more clearly each and every day. In time, he will overcome all your darkness.

Rejoice: Jesus has opened your eyes!

“Thank you, Lord, for your grace. I was blind, but now I see.” (Meditation on John 9:1-41, n.d.)

Andrew Cameron-Mowat SJ, who teaches liturgy at Heythrop College, University of London, notes that the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent are united in their liturgical and spiritual themes. The scripture for these days emphasises purification, or freedom from the darkness of sin and death, and enlightenment, in which one is filled with the truth and joy of Christ.

On the fourth Sunday, in the first book of Samuel, God, who “looks at the heart” chooses the most unlikely candidate, fresh and ruddy David, as the one to lead the people.  The Gospel text recounts the healing of the man born blind, portraying the bewilderment of the people as to why such a thing could happen on the Sabbath, and particularly that someone whom they regarded as a sinner could be cured.  For the blind man, the curing is a gradual process, mirroring the Samaritan woman's gradual realisation of faith recounted in the previous week. The letter to the Ephesians speaks in terms of the darkness of our former lives and reminds us of what light brings: “complete goodness and right living and truth.” (Eph 5: 9)  We are all in need of healing from our blindnesses, to God and to the good in one another.  This Sunday is half-way through Lent and known as Laetare Sunday after its entrance song.  As we are “beginning to see the light”, the mood lifts a little. (Cameron-Mowat SJ, 2008)

Friar Jude Winkler discusses our interior disposition that is visible to God and sometimes not to others, even prophets. In John, the unnamed characters like the man born blind stand for all us  in our spiritual blindness and reluctance to express our faith openly. Friar Jude notes the references to expulsion from the synagogue and not mention of Sadducees place some of this text at around 85CE.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that Jesus shows that children can teach the rest of us how to adopt a “beginner’s mind.”

Jesus says the only people who can recognize and be ready for what he’s talking about are the ones who come with the mind and heart of a child. It’s the same reality as the beginner’s mind. The older we get, the more we’ve been betrayed and hurt and disappointed, the more barriers we put up to the beginner’s mind. We move further away from the immediate delight and curiosity of small children. We must never presume that we see, and we must always be ready to see anew. But it’s so hard to go back, to be vulnerable, and to say to our soul that “I don’t know anything.”  

Try to say that: “I don’t know anything.” We used to call it tabula rasa in Latin. Maybe we could think of ourselves as an erased blackboard, ready to be written on. By and large, what blocks spiritual teaching is the assumption that we already know, or that we don’t need to know. We have to pray for the grace of beginner’s mind. We need to say with the blind man, “I want to see” (Mark 10:51). (Rohr, 2023)

We grow comfortable in our vision of the world even as the Spirit reminds us that the Way of Jesus brings new vision and understanding of our mission.

References

Cameron-Mowat SJ, A. (2008, February 23). Lent: A Way Out of the Shadows. Thinking Faith. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/20080223_1.htm 

Ephesians, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/5?8 

Hopp, L. (2023, March 19). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/031923.html 

John, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/9?1 

Meditation on John 9:1-41. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/03/19/633842/ 

1 Samuel, CHAPTER 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/16?1 

Psalms, PSALM 23. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/23?1 

Rohr, R. (2023, March 19). Adopting a Beginner's Mind — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/adopting-a-beginners-mind-2023-03-19/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Frees Us from Spiritual Blindness and Sin. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=mar19 

Seeing and Doing

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to gratitude for the relationships that have increased our faith and action as disciples of Jesus.

Seeing and doing

The reading from the Book of James relates hearing and doing the Word.

* [1:19–25] To be quick to hear the gospel is to accept it readily and to act in conformity with it, removing from one’s soul whatever is opposed to it, so that it may take root and effect salvation (Jas 1:19–21). To listen to the gospel message but not practice it is failure to improve oneself (Jas 1:22–24). Only conformity of life to the perfect law of true freedom brings happiness (Jas 1:25).1

Psalm 15 asks who shall abide in God’s Sanctuary?

* [Psalm 15] The Psalm records a liturgical scrutiny at the entrance to the Temple court (cf. Ps 24:3–6; Is 33:14b–16). The Israelite wishing to be admitted had to ask the Temple official what conduct was appropriate to God’s precincts. Note the emphasis on virtues relating to one’s neighbor.2

 

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus cures a Blind Man at Bethsaida.

* [8:22–26] Jesus’ actions and the gradual cure of the blind man probably have the same purpose as in the case of the deaf man (Mk 7:31–37). Some commentators regard the cure as an intended symbol of the gradual enlightenment of the disciples concerning Jesus’ messiahship.3 

Tom Purcell comments that Jesus knew that at times it was best for Him to be separate from the good he brought to those He loved so they would not misunderstand the nature of His love, and that of the Creator.

The ancient philosopher warrior Yoda, from a distant galaxy, far, far away, once said, “Do.  Or do not.  There is no try.”  I think of Saint Teresa of Calcutta when I hear these words.  She is attributed with saying “If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.”  She also was credited with saying “The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.  Do good anyway.”  I also think of the Ignatian prayer for generosity, some of which says “. . . to give and not to count the cost . . . to fight and not heed the wounds . . .”  Being a doer is within our ability.  It can become second nature with practice.  The first “do” can lead to other “doings” and the hearer over time can become a doer.  But, as Yoda said, there is no try – there ultimately only is DO! And so, my prayer today is for the grace to first be an active hearer, and then to be a faithful doer.4 

Don Schwager quotes “Through the divine word of Christ he received his sight,” attributed to Pseudo-Chrysostom, in the 5th century A.D.

"[Jesus] spat indeed, and put his hand upon the blind man, because he wished to show that wonderful are the effects of the Divine word added to action; for the hand is the symbol of working, but the spittle, of the word proceeding out of the mouth. Again he asked him whether he could see any thing, which he had not done in the case of any whom he had healed, thus showing that by the weak faith of those who brought him, and of the blind man himself, his eyes could not altogether be opened. There follows: 'And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees walking;' because he was still under the influence of unfaithfulness, he said that he saw men obscurely. From the commencement, however, of the return of his senses, he leads him to apprehend things by faith, and thus makes him see perfectly. He then goes on to say, After that, he put his hands again upon his eyes, and he began to see, and afterwards he adds, And he was restored, and saw all things clearly; he was perfectly healed in his senses and his intellect." (excerpt from a Commentary on Mark 8:22-25, attributed to Pseudo-Chrysostom today, an unknown early church father unknown today, but was ascribed for a time to John Chrysostom, 5th century AD)5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on James 1:19-27 urges us to keep doing what’s right. As James reminds us, acting on the truths of the gospel is just as important as knowing them. Keep responding with kindness, keep giving generously, and keep forgiving. We will experience the blessing of peace. We will have the assurance of doing what God asks, even when it’s not easy, as well as the joy of knowing that we are sharing Christ with those around you.

Whatever trials you are facing today, take some time to recognize God’s goodness and generosity and then act on the things you know to be true and right. Perhaps slowly, you’ll find that you are indeed blessed and that you can take each day as it comes. Perhaps too, you will become more convinced that your greatest reward will come from God, both in this life and in the next. “Jesus, thank you for the hope that you offer me. Help me to see your goodness and to act on your word today.”6

 

Friar Jude Winkler comments on James' wisdom to be slow to speak and build up rather than divide. Our freedom is expressed in action to serve others. Friar Jude reminds us to to have patience without presumption as we wait for God’s time to move forward.

 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that we can pray always when we live in conscious union with God. The surprise for most of us is that this place of relationship with God is really not about being perfect. The self in God will still make mistakes, but it lives from a center other than its own. It’s hard to get a feel for this until we’ve met a centered person, someone grounded and in union with God.

In fact, I’d go so far as to say that we have to have met a saint. My definition of Christianity at one time was that a Christian is someone who’s met one, because this whole thing is contagious! When we meet a person of a certain quality of maturity, we too can become more mature. We meet a patient person and we learn how to be patient. We meet a loving person and we learn how to be loving. That’s the way human beings operate. When we meet a really grounded, happy, and free person, we become more like that because we’ll be satisfied with nothing less. This whole thing, our faith, spreads through and by the quality of our relationships.7 

The relationships that have brought us life have laid the foundation for the Spirit to bring life to others through our action in God’s time.

 

References

1	(n.d.). James, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/james/1
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 15 | USCCB. Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/15
3	(n.d.). Mark, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/8
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - Online Ministries. Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/021622.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=feb16
6	(n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/02/16/314450/
7	(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https://cac.org/a-quality-of-relationship-2022-02-16/