Seeing Deeply
Gate Pa – Lent 4 2014
Readings:
Hebrew Scripture: 1 Sam 16:1-13
Psalm: 23
Epistle: Eph
5:8-14
Gospel: John 9:1-41
What I want to say:
use the gospel to ask who are the bind people, and offer the
examen as a way of learning to see
What I want to
happen:
The Sermon
1. Introduction:
Since last
time – John way back Galilee from Jerusalem
in
Samaria talking marginalised woman
since then
– returned Jerusalem for a festival of Jews
healed lame person on Sabbath
then
returns Galilee –
now back
in Jerusalem for last time
This is a
hard reading for us
things get
in way
we bring
our own assumptions about how things are
blind to many
of the assumptions at work in the story
scientific
and medical knowledge
know how
eyes work
know what
light is
kind
of
looking
particle – particle
looking
wave – wave
certainly know
light is not physical substance
like darkness is not physical
substance
pretty clear – not reside within
us and not shine out eyes allowing us to see
all about
light on inside going into eyes
know disease is same illness
being
blind
-
specific causes
not due to sin
can or can’t be treated
not being cast out all social relationships
theologically
it is hard
don’t tend blame people for
being blind
although
we do at times seems to blame them for things like being unemployed
even
sickness beneficiary
It is hard
to read these stories
we are
blind to so much
Who is blind?
begin with
question – who sinned
Jesus says
no-one
so that God glorified
then says
that he is light world
light the resides within and
allows people to really see
heals man
both blindness
more importantly – restoring him
family, community and to God
Then asked
by Pharisees who healed him
little titchy because this is on
Sabbath
turns out
still little blind
doesn’t know who healed him
where he is
ensuing
conversation
Pharisees turn out be blind as
well
not
willing to see Jesus as light allows them to see
“We know this
man is a sinner – give glory to God”
blinded
by adherence rules
Man
previously known as blind man beginning to see
becomes less co-operative
“Here is an astonishing thing!
You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31We
know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who
worships him and obeys his will. 32Never since the world began has
it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33If
this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34They answered
him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they
drove him out.”
Blind
sinner is now one who sees
Ones who
think they see become blind sinners
which made
abundantly clear in final conversation with now seeing man
so where
are we in this story?
“Surely we
are not blind are we?
Last 2 weeks
talked about prayer
ultimately
said is listening
or
translate into this week’s reading– about seeing
last week
offered idea praying with scripture
– sacred reading as one way
listen
This week
talk about daily examen as another way listening
seeing
seeing ourselves
seeing God at work in us and
world we live in.
Ignatius
comes out
teaching Ignatius Loyola
born in Loyola
- Spain 1491 – into noble family
grew up great ideas of being knight
1517
joined Spanish army
1521 – leg
severely damaged by cannonball passing between legs
while
recovered – long arduous process
wanted
read lives great knights – daring deeds, battles fought, damsel rescued
very few place resident
left
him feeling dejected and sad
lot of lives of saints
left
him feeling joy and peace
end time
vision baby Jesus in arms Mary
confessed his many sins – vowed lived
life service Christ
after further
time spent prayer and confession in Benedictine monastery –
put sword
on altar
took
clothes beggar
pilgrimage
to holy land
spent 11
years studying various universities Spain and France
living
radical life prayer, poverty
taking few beating, being
expelled few cities
took notes
of prayer life all experienced
during
that time joined by small number other men
led him
petition Pope Paul 111 in 1534 for official recognition for Society of Jesus –
commonly known as Jesuits
of which Pope
Francis is a member
Great gift
was eclectic
took thinking number writers spiritual
life
merged them into new framework
by which understand life in God
developed directed
30 silent retreat
where retreatant through set
series of imaginative prayer experiences
comes face sins,
and then slowly invited reform
themselves in God’s love found Christ
developed
thinking around consolation – experiences being drawn towards God
desolation – experiences being
drawn away from God
In light
of that did lot thinking and writing around discernment, making ongoing
prayerful decisions, both big and small that been developed other thinkers,
many Jesuits -
important
part of this process was daily examen
time spent each day asking –
when have I been drawn to God
-
when have I been drawn away
not need
to be big thing
helpful
way to learn to see
to see who we truly are
people invited into God’s love
people
who at times reject that invitation
to learn to see God at work in
us and in our world
way that like
blind man we can be healed
invite you
to ask yourself at end of each day
what am I
most thankful for?
how have I experienced God this day?
what am I
least thankful for?
how have I been led astray?
might want
record your reflections
might want
pray about what you see as a way of ending your day.
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