Fourth Sunday of Lent
Kenneth C. Kroohs
I Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:1-14; John 9:1-38
The Scriptural theme for this week is very appropriate both for Lent and for our series on "What does it mean to be a Christian and an Episcopalian?" The theme is being anointed by God...appointed...assigned by God and seeing our lives in a new way. The anointment theme is clearest in the calling of David to be king of Israel. But notice also the strong theme of seeing in a new way. Everyone else saw David as the least of these. God saw David as the greatest of these.
In the Gospel we hear about Jesus allowing the blind man to see. I always wondered about the spit and mud part of that! One scholar I read speculated that Jesus did it that way to make the point with the Pharisees. Healing, many would argue, might be allowed on the Sabbath, but making the mud clearly was work and not allowed. Interesting speculation.
Anyway, we find a man who was blind from birth and now received new sight. Furthermore, we see the man's knowledge of and relationship with Jesus growing over time. First, he is simply a beggar on the side of the road, then a demonstration for Jesus, and before it is over he is proclaiming that Jesus came from God. Before it is over the formerly blind man is willing to be thrown out of society rather than deny Jesus.
I think though that the part of the new sight theme that applies most directly to our study this Lent is from Ephesians. Paul is telling them to see their world in a new way. And because they are now followers of Jesus Christ they should try to: "learn what is pleasing to God." With that, let's turn to the "Outline of the faith" page 850 in the Prayer Book.
Last week I touched very briefly on the concepts of Jesus' incarnation -- becoming human, His death and His resurrection. We ended the session with some thoughts are how all of that was for our sake and not for God's sake. Remember I emphasized that was my ...
Kenneth C. Kroohs
I Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:1-14; John 9:1-38
The Scriptural theme for this week is very appropriate both for Lent and for our series on "What does it mean to be a Christian and an Episcopalian?" The theme is being anointed by God...appointed...assigned by God and seeing our lives in a new way. The anointment theme is clearest in the calling of David to be king of Israel. But notice also the strong theme of seeing in a new way. Everyone else saw David as the least of these. God saw David as the greatest of these.
In the Gospel we hear about Jesus allowing the blind man to see. I always wondered about the spit and mud part of that! One scholar I read speculated that Jesus did it that way to make the point with the Pharisees. Healing, many would argue, might be allowed on the Sabbath, but making the mud clearly was work and not allowed. Interesting speculation.
Anyway, we find a man who was blind from birth and now received new sight. Furthermore, we see the man's knowledge of and relationship with Jesus growing over time. First, he is simply a beggar on the side of the road, then a demonstration for Jesus, and before it is over he is proclaiming that Jesus came from God. Before it is over the formerly blind man is willing to be thrown out of society rather than deny Jesus.
I think though that the part of the new sight theme that applies most directly to our study this Lent is from Ephesians. Paul is telling them to see their world in a new way. And because they are now followers of Jesus Christ they should try to: "learn what is pleasing to God." With that, let's turn to the "Outline of the faith" page 850 in the Prayer Book.
Last week I touched very briefly on the concepts of Jesus' incarnation -- becoming human, His death and His resurrection. We ended the session with some thoughts are how all of that was for our sake and not for God's sake. Remember I emphasized that was my ...
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