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Reflection on this Sunday's scripture readings
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1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13
Psalm 22
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-41
The readings for this Sunday are all concerned with seeing and spiritual insights. In the first reading God led Samuel to Saul's successor, and chose not the tallest of Jesse's sons but the youngest boy, David, who had been left in the fields looking after the sheep. God judges not by appearances, as we do, but by a person's heart. The people of Israel have always regarded King David as the perfect king blessed by God.
The Gospel is a healing story of a blind man but it is also about a spiritual enlightenment. Jesus was able to give physical sight to the blind man but the man himself received spiritual insight into the identity of Jesus.
Philosophical thought in the first century was influenced by Greek dualism which saw everything in opposites like darkness and light. So St Paul speaks of the early Christians in Ephesus as people who are now children of light as opposed to those in darkness. The effects of the light, says Paul are seen in complete goodness, right living and truth.
Read the Gospel for today. Can you put yourself in the place of the blind man? What kind of blindness does the Lord heal in you?
Psalm 22 (or 23) encapsulates today's message. When you read it today reflect on God, our shepherd who leads us to wholeness in body and spirit and looks after each one of us no matter who we are.