Daily Office Readings for Thursday 11 April 2019 Week of 5 Lent Year 1
AM Psalm 131, 132, [133]; PM Psalm 140, 142Jer. 26:1-16; Rom. 11:1-12; John 10:19-42
John
“Many of them were saying, ‘He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?’ Others were saying, ‘These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?’” (John 10: 20-21)
My Pondering
I’ve always been the kind of person that if I thought what I was hearing from someone (and that person wasn’t a boss or a teacher), I would simply excuse myself and walk away. I would not try to coerce others into following me or to not accept what was being said. They needed to figure that out for themselves. I quickly recognize the condescending nature of the first speaker in the short passage from John. The second speaker tries to use a more analytical approach in figuring out the real value of Jesus’ words. The second speaker says, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?
I have heard a lot of good information in my life from various people, some well educated and some not so well educated. But what came to me from them was often very good. And I have also had more than enough garbage spoken in my presence, from so-called well educated and the not so well educated. This latter part I just threw out, not always the smart thing to do.
I must admit that sometimes I have had to climb into the dumpster of thrown-away words to retrieve a sentence that literally opened the blind eyes of my heart and mind. When I was a teenager I hung out with some reckless friends that my Dad did not approve of. He told me, “you know,” he said, “water seeks its own level.” What? I thought. I didn’t realize my dad was using a metaphor to enlighten me about the fact that “I am my friends.” I am the company I keep. When one or two of my so-called friends began to get in trouble I finally saw the trajectory I was on and regrouped, changed directions.
My Dad was a truck driver, not one of the well-educated speakers in my life but he loved me and wanted the best for me. His words of love were the kind of words that Jesus used in the presence of all those around him. Yet many didn’t listen.
It is so important to be around people who speak words that give sight. Sometimes you don’t see the value of the words at first. So keep that dumpster of thrown-away words in sight. It is also important to be able to tell quickly if the companions you keep are continually negative. Remember, water seeks its own level.
Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to the people of the Creating Word and then let us “Ponder anew what the Almighty is doing.” John Thomas Frazier Sr.
onewhoponders 