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“Sleeper awake!
Rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.”  

  

This Sunday’s liturgy is full of contrasts: outside and inside, darkness and light, blindness and sight.  Each of these exists in our lives at one time or another to various degrees.  

IMG 0002 350x3121xWhen  God sent Samuel to Jesse to anoint one of his sons as a king for Israel, they both thought that probably that one of the older, stronger men would be the one.  However, God told Samuel it was none of these: “The Lord does not see as the human sees; the human looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (cf. Samuel Ch. 16):  So David was sent for in the field where he was keeping the sheep – a smelly and dirty job. Yet, he was “king material”!  And Samuel anointed him king.    

The man born blind lived in a world of darkness and did the only thing open to him so as to make a living: begging for his keep.  It was the disciples who brought Jesus’ attention to this man, wondering who had sinned to cause him to be born blind.  In answer, Jesus called the blind man to him, put mud on his eyes and told him to go wash himself at Siloam.  The man did exactly that, not entirely sure what might happen, and came back able to see!     

Neither David nor the man born blind looked for this call.  Each of them was living his life as best he knew how within the limits of his society.  Life was as good as expected.  However, each was chosen by God to fulfill a greater task: David to be king, the man born blind to see for the first time and witness to God’s power in Jesus.  Each was chosen for the betterment of his people.  

IMG 0011 350x2621xSometimes I can be very blind to the treasures within my own heart, afraid of what I might find there.  I am also sometimes blind to the good in others, judging on what I see and not taking time to open my heart to God in that person.  Yes, when I am “asleep”, God calls me to let the light of Christ shine in me and reflect God’s light to those around me.  As long as I remain attentive in this way, the light of Christ shines on in the world.  

  

Christ our Light, be the beacon in our darkness leading us on as we continue on our pilgrimage toward the Resurrection!  

  

Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. (Eph. 5.8-14) 

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