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Gospel Lesson for the Week

 

March 2, 2008

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Please Read

John 9:1-41

Read also

1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm 23

Ephesians 5:8-14

 

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.

The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?"

Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man."

--- John 9:1-9

 

 

.       Fiber Optic     .

 

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

--- John 9:5

 

When I behold some tragic circumstance,

I have a choice:

In philosophical detachment,

I can rationalize its cause.

Or I can get caught up

in sadness and despair.

Or if I have the credentials  

I can diagnose and prescribe.

Or I can toss a coin and forget.

Or I can become the instrument

by which God acts and is glorified. 

Jesus dismissed other alternatives

and chose the latter one.

 

With dirt and spit, he made a poultice

 to place upon a blind man’s eyes.

(In Jesus hands, mud can be medication.)

And acting in obedient faith,

the blind man bathed in Siloam’s waters

and came forth with his sight renewed.

 

Now since as far as I can tell,

my spit holds no medicinal value,

I must content myself to being

the conduit of the Light

that he offers and that he is.

 

The difference between Jesus and me

is that he’s the source of Light;

I am only the optical fiber

that carries and conducts the Light.

So by my witness and my life

I shall be that optical fiber

carrying the Light of Christ

into the darkened corners of my world.

Taking whatever’s at hand,

just ordinary things like spit and dirt,

and mixing it with love,

I will do what I can to share that Light.

 

--- rvc


*** D I S C L A I M E R ***

 

The Weekly Lessons are based on the lectionary texts for the week – usually the Gospel lesson. They are not designed as a formal commentary.  Rather, they are the personal reflections and original compositions of The Relay Online editor, Rev. Robin Van Cleef, and offer a jumping off point, using the scriptures as triggers to thought, imagination, and (we hope) empowerment.  As you read them, let your own imagination play, and let the Spirit speak to you, leading you where it will.  The Gospel Lessons reflected on this site may not be copied, reproduced or otherwise manipulated elsewhere on the internet without the expressed consent of the author.  Please also note that while we're unable to quote Bible scripture on these pages, it is permissible to redirect our viewers to Bible passages using hyperlinks to web sites having that authority.  The Verse Of The Day and BibleGateway Search engine are the property on BibleGateway.com and are used here with their specific permission.


 

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