Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 17: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 31, Evening, Psalm 35;
Job 19:1 to 7 and 14 to 27; Acts 13:13 to 25; and John 9:18 to 41
“Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.” (John 9:32)
I think the operative word here is “born” blind. Our Lord Jesus did not restore the man’s sight as he has done for others. Jesus gave him something he has never had, his ability to see for the very first time.
There is more than one kind of blindness. When we are made to see our lives in only one sad way, we are blind to the realities and love of the world. It is almost like being color blind.
Being born into a world in which you are told that you are less valued than others makes you blind to all the potential God has placed in you. In my own story, I feel that I was mismanaged twice by an elementary school teacher. I was told that I was stupid and hopeless. This was not a race issue. It was an issue of family hatred that I only found out about later in life. In fact, it was a combination of joining the Marines, taking psychology courses and joining the Church, that made me aware that I was not stupid or less valued than anybody else.
In this way, joining the Church was coming to Jesus in my early thirties, and was in fact being able to see my true self for the first time. Sometimes we lose sight of who we are. But sometimes we never had sight of who we are. It is a very big deal to see who we are for the very first time. Far too many people, of all walks of life, never really see who they are and what God wants for them. I suggest finding the Lord and let God open your eyes for the first time. And please know this, it is never too late. In all the world, only our Lord Jesus can give sight where there was none, ever. Thank You Lord Jesus.
Today let us remember Hannah More, Religious Writer and philanthropist (1883); her bio can be found at Hannah More (satucket.com)
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom.
What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray:
Thank You Lord Jesus for opening our eyes to the almost limitless possibilities you have set before us. Your vision for us is seen in love for one another and for our Creator. Help us daily we pray, to share your vision of love, and live in global love for God, and all humanity together, Amem.
onewhoponders 