[Pearls Ep 163: Bringing Sunday into the week.]
He had a mess of bright red hair, and big mouth.
And he was sitting next to me.
It was the first day of 4th grade. Not only that, but our quickly-growing town had just opened a new elementary school that drew kids from different parts of town, including me. Like most everyone else I was nervous about meeting a bunch of new kids and making friends.
Someone at the table asked my name. As I opened my mouth to answer the big-mouthed redhead next to me blurted out “Stupid!” on my behalf.
He thought that was a riot, and the other 9-year-old philistines at the table thought it was pretty rich as well. My face turned redder than his hair. And that’s saying something.
I would soon learn my arch-enemy’s name was Russell the Jerk. Technically it was just Russell, but I thought he deserved a fitting title.
As fate would have it, Russell would turn out to be one of my best childhood friends. His big mouth sort of grew on me and we would remain thick-as-thieves through high school.
This brings us back to Sunday’s scripture passages.
In the first reading, Samuel is sent on the Lord’s behalf to select the next King of Israel from Jesse’s eight sons. Jesse presents his seven oldest sons, thinking one of them will be the Lord’s chosen, and Samuel was indeed taken with one of them. But to the surprise of Jesse and Samuel, the Lord saw things differently and demanded to be presented with the eight and youngest son, David, declaring, “Not as man sees does God see.”
And, of course, in the Gospel reading, we have the blind man whose vision is restored. Which is everyone who gives their life to Jesus. Look at the 11 apostles who remained faithful to Jesus. There is no record of any of them receiving a specific healing from Jesus – but each of them were given new sight. What else could account for each of them going to a martyr’s death?
As we go into the week it’s a reminder to call on God to help us to see things differently. Or – even if we can’t see how anything good is coming from a trial that we’re facing – to trust that God sees the good He is bringing from it. Which is really all that matters.
Lenten blessings –
Steve
Steve and Karen Smith
Interior Life
Postscript: John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38
As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” — which means Sent —. So he went and washed, and came back able to see.
His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is,” but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.”
They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.”
But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”
They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out.
When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.