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March 2, 2008 - 4th Sunday in Lent
As he (Jesus) 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.
-- John 9: 1-7
Light and darkness come in many forms. In a literal sense we experience light and
darkness every day with the rotation of our earthly home. In a spiritual sense we also
experience periods of light and darkness as we navigate our way in life. Like children,
spiritual darkness makes us afraid and immobilized, whereas the light of Christ brings
peace and truth.
The light that illuminates our spiritual darkness is not our own, but from Christ,
the light of the world. Jesus alone brings light into the dark places of our hearts where
we are blind to God's love for us and our opportunities to love one another. Like the man
who received his sight from Jesus (with a little help from some mud and spit), we have
the opportunity to be "sighted" when we look to the light of the world (no mud or spit
needed!).
We pray: Bend your ear to our prayers, Lord Christ, and come among us.
By your gracious life and death for us, bring light into the darkness of our hearts,
and anoint us with your Spirit. Amen
Lessons for the 4th Sunday in Lent:
- Psalm 23
- 1 Samuel 16:1-13
- Ephesians 5:8-14
- John 9:1-41
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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