Prayers of the People: Un-Blinded By His Light ~ 4th Sunday in Lent '23 Yr A

For Sunday, March 19, 2023 ~ Readings: Samuel 16:1-13, Psalm 23, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41

  But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance of on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." [1 Samuel 16:7] 

    Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. [Psalm 23:6]

    Once you were in darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light - for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. [Ephesians 5:8-14]

  "...As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." When [Jesus] said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the [blind] 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 9:5-6]

    Did you ever wonder why if Jesus knew he could make the blind man see, he didn’t just snap his fingers or simply say "you can see now"? But then, symbolism ~ when recognized or at least intuited ~ is important even if not always understood completely. Spittle in ancient times was deemed to have medicinal properties. The mud he made with his saliva became a healing agent, and in turn, Jesus became a known healer. (Have you also ever wondered if any of the Pharisees tried this mud idea later?) 

     Jesus explains that this man had not sinned as the Pharisees who, by tradition and their interpretation of The Law, attributed all misfortune to sin. The man’s eyes were opened to sight after he washed clean ~ perhaps as in the waters of Baptism washing us spiritually clean? We are told in the passage that the name Siloam translates as sent, as Jesus was and is sent by God to open our eyes to see the light, to believe and follow the life to which God calls us. None of us is perfect but we are forgiven ~ as is David who, as we know from his later story, was far from perfect (and in that there is hope for us all!).

     The choosing of David by God, in the passage from 1 Samuel, is merely the beginning of the compelling story of this man. The "blind man" is unnamed and his story is brief, yet important, but David begins his reign fresh from his pastures as a young shepherd and has a long and chaotic life.

     The Psalm appointed for this week is attributed by some traditions to David himself, and surely, he or whoever authored it, thoroughly understood the nature of sheep and shepherding. The symbolism comes through the depth of each line that refers back to how to work with real-life sheep.* For example, sheep are inherently nervous creatures and are frightened to stampede by an apple simply dropping from a tree. The shepherd massages ~ anoints ~ each and every sheep with oil to keep burrowing insects from infecting their eyes and to comfort them. They are terrified by fast flowing water and can only drink from water that appears to be still. The psalmist asks the Lord to lead him beside still waters and the lectionary’s timing for this could not be any better given the turbulent times in which we live.

    Paul speaks to the Ephesians, and ultimately to us, exhorting us to awaken from the sleep of the darkness of sin to live as children of light, and to discover what is pleasing to the Lord. Things are always easier to see in the light though not necessarily more clearly. The Pharisees used a different lens to "see" what Jesus what trying to tell them ~ they didn't seem to get, or want to get the whole picture. God tells Samuel that the Lord does not see as mortals see...the Lord looks on each heart. 

    This is a good week to try to see what is in my heart, what blinders are on my eyes, and what darkness I invite into my life. I can use this Psalm as a personal prayer and plea as I speak the "my, and the I, and the me" for myself, and then I can take those personal pronouns and replace them with the name of someone else as a prayer for her or him or them any time and particularly for those currently in fear, desperately ill, or grieving: The Lord is their shepherd; they shall not be in want. He makes her lie down in green pastures and leads him beside still waters…

    I know that I have often been figuratively blinded to the true Light of Christ by the temptations and distractions in this mortal existence. I still am, at times, when it is easier to turn to the sleep of the dark than to wake and answer Christ’s call. O Jesus, massage the blindness from my eyes. It is past time for this Sleeper to awake again! I will sit at the table You set before me, be anointed by Your Presence within me, and be un-blinded by Your Radiant Light. 

*I commend to you a little book titled, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23  by W. Phillip Keller who once was a true contemporary shepherd. He unpacks all that the psalm speaks of in relation to how a shepherd cares for sheep as God cares and (tries to) lead us.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Eternal Shepherd, Merciful and Just, You chose David in his youth and us from the womb, knowing our full potential. As You look into our hearts, lead us from the blindness of pride and earthly temptation, to the clarity of eyes opened to the fullness of life in You.               

                                              O God of Truth and Light

         RESPONSE:           Let us awake!                             

~  Eternal Shepherd, Merciful and Just, arouse and kindle the inner vision of those who lead us in this World, this Country, and this Community, so they will see themselves as You see them, and begin to shepherd their own flocks with integrity, principle, and compassion. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                O God of Truth and Light

                                                Let us awake!

~ Eternal Shepherd, Merciful and Just, comfort all who suffer with physical illness, fear of sickness, or economic anxiety, and impart Your calming Spirit to those who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                O God of Truth and Light

                                                Let us awake!          

~ Eternal Shepherd, Merciful and Just, soothe the hearts of all who grieve, as our loved ones now live again in the delight of endless green pastures, dwelling in Your House forever. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

                                                O God of Truth and Light

                                                Let us awake!

~ Eternal Shepherd, Merciful and Just, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

                                                O God of Truth and Light

                                                Let us awake!                    

~ Eternal Shepherd, Merciful and Just, amplify Your Spirit already within those who are anointed to guide Your Church along right pathways, as we walk together seeking the fruit of the light of Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                O God of Truth and Light

                                                Let us awake!

The Celebrant adds:  O Lord our God, still the turbulent waters of our times and release us from the darkness we make for ourselves. Draw us to the table that You spread before us, where the cup of Your goodness and mercy overflows in this life and anoints us for the next. We ask this through Jesus our Christ, True Light from True Light; and the Guiding Spirit of all that is Holy; who live and reign with You, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 

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Meditation Moment in Lent ~ Day 17, Give Up, Take On, Pray

Prayer is a nonlocative, nongeographic space that one enters at one's own peril,

for it houses God during those few moments of one's presence there, and what is there will most surely change everything that comes into it....Ever traveling as we travel, moving as we move, prayer grips like home, until the heart belongs nowhere else and the body can scarcely function apart from them both.

Prayer is dangerous and the entrance way to wholeness.

~ Phyllis Tickle* 1934-2015

    How do you pray?  There are many ways ~ some use formally constructed prayers written by others, some pray spontaneously in a group.  Some pray in silence and alone. What are the reasons for your prayers: intercessory (on behalf of others), thanksgiving (for blessings in life), petition (request for yourself), penitence (you're sorry for something), to give praise to God without asking or expecting a return? What about what I say in traffic (okay, I admit, sometimes using your name rudely)? How do you want to pray? Step one: Dear God...

Dear God,
       Sometimes I find it difficult to know what to say to You even though I don't seem to have a problem talking to anyone else. What words are best? What should I be saying? Do the words matter? 
       For today, I will give up trying to pray the way I think is correct and take on speaking to You from my heart.  I will pray to share sacred space with You, more often. Is it true that I can be transformed by engaging with You regularly? That does feel a little dangerous but, You are God, what better danger can there be?  amen.

*An Episcopal lay woman, Phyllis Tickle was an accomplished author and lecturer whose focus was primarily religion and spirituality. She served as a teacher, professor, an academic dean, and as an editor for St. Luke's Press, Peachtree Publishers, and Publishers Weekly. Her best known works are The Great Emergence - How Christianity is Changing and Why and her series on The Divine Hours. The opening quote is from Phyllis Tickle: Essential Spiritual Writings (Jon Sweeney, ed., Church Publishing, 2018)

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Meditation Moment in Lent ~ Day 16, Give Up, Take On, Pray

Psalm 23 speaks to us in the simplest of terms

that belie the intricacy of its depth.

      The symbolism in this well-known Psalm is far more complex and fascinating than just the obvious image of a guy walking down a lane with a big staff and a dog, or the pretty girl of nursery rhymes with a bow on her crook as the sheep dutifully follow.  
      The demands on real living shepherds are constant and endless.  Sheep are peculiarly needy and helpless creatures, quite restive, timid, and even self-destructive at times. They can stand still for hours or bolt into stampede because an apple drops unexpectedly from a tree. If they are heavy with lambs, they will likely lose them in the running and panic. The shepherd must keep continuous vigil against disease, insect infestations, pecking order fights, escape artists, water and food supplies, and especially predators. Two untrained dogs can slaughter nearly 300 sheep overnight if the sheep are untended. Sheep will NOT lie down unless they are completely contented and secure. A special oil mixture that the shepherd prepares and swabs (anoints) around the sheep's head and nose keeps deadly insects from burrowing and causing panic and disease, and the sheep is calmed for a bit. Then there are shearing and lambing seasons...
      Taken line by line in this Psalm we can see, feel, and almost hear Jesus, our Shepherd, here with us, reviving, caring, comforting, and anointing. Watching over us, preparing our table, restoring us.  Nothing we need is withheld.  A Good Shepherd's job is never done.


Most Gracious and Vigilant Shepherd,
      How much of my life I have known the words of this lovely little Psalm ~ but have I paid attention to them?  Have I understood what they really mean in my life?  They're so familiar that when it comes time I recite them with a matter-of-fact monotone voice without even listening to myself.  But for today, I will give up taking for granted that You ARE the Shepherd who restores my soul and anoints my heart when I call on You. I will take on reading this Psalm carefully and slowly at least twice.  I will pray these words with conscious intention and attention, recognizing the important message that Christ Jesus IS my shepherd. I will read it one time as a prayer for myself, emphasizing the parts that do refer to me: The Lord is MY Shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes ME lie down in green pastures and leads ME beside still waters......
    And then, I will read it once more (at least). Only this time I'll add the name and appropriate pronouns of someone I know as an intercessory prayer. And I will carry the image of Jesus leading us, comforting us, anointing us as we walk toward dwelling in the House of the Lord forever. I think I will call this, Psalm 23.1.  amen.


Psalm 23  (format from the Book of Common Prayer)

The Lord is Margaret's shepherd;
She shall not be in want.

He makes Margaret lie down in green pastures
and leads her beside still waters.

He revives Margaret's soul

and guides her along right pathways for his Name's sake.

Though Margaret walks through the valley of the shadow of death,
She shall fear no evil; for you are with her;
your rod and your staff, they comfort her.

You spread a table before Margaret in the presence of 

those who trouble her; You anoint her head with oil,

and her cup is running over.

Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow her all the days
of her life, and Margaret will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Amen.


*Sheep herding information from "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23," by W. Phillip Keller, with a closer look at the fascinating connections between the Psalm's descriptions and real life sheep farming.

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Meditation Moment in Lent, Day 15, Give Up, Take On, Pray '23

What exactly IS The Christian Ideal? 

     If you Google the phrase you'll get directed to the Chesterton^* quote and untold numbers of sermons about "it." One Biblical reference that showed up was 1 Peter 2:18-25. If that is the only part of the Bible I ever got to read, I don't think it would draw me in to a Christian life! Granted it was for its time but I’m glad I wasn’t living then and there. Although, we must remember that millions are living in similar conditions today. How confident are you of defining The Christian Ideal to others? Something as in, "Well, of course it is...." How would you define it as a way of life? Why does Chesterton say it's difficult? What happens if (when?) you stray from the Ideal?

Jesus, Beloved of God,
     You are the Christ, the Anointed One, the Son of God, the Son of Man. We are the Christians who have signed on to follow You, to live our lives as You have taught us. You did give us all we need to know in Matthew 22:33-40** which is pretty clear:  Love God with everything we have and love everyone ~ friend, not friend, and stranger ~ as if they are ourselves. Sounds easy ~ I guess if we can really do that, we've pretty well covered the original 1-10 list. Well, I quietly admit there are days when I'm not loving anyone very much especially myself and many other days when I watch to see how I measure up with the ways other Christians appear to be following You. That can be discouraging on a variety of levels. For today, I'll give up looking around to see what everyone else is doing and take on the "trying" part a little more diligently. I'll pray to find my path through The Christian Ideal and when I hit a bump or two or have a cranky day, I'll leave a message for myself to work on remembering to pray again and more often. 

      Oh, and I'll also remember that believers and non-believers alike can love others as if they were themselves. What a better world that would bring!  amen.


^*G.K. Chesterton [1874-1936] born in London and baptized as an Anglican, studied art and literature harboring a desire to be an artist. He fell into journalism and then began to write in earnest penning more than 80 books, hundreds of short stories, and more hundreds of poems.  He's widely known for his Priest-Detective Father Brown character, which, dramatized for television, still plays on PBS in the US. A lay theologian and philosopher, he converted to Roman Catholicism in 1922. Poet, playwright, political commentator, literary and art critic, he was known for his wit and humor and use of paradox. His faith was deep and his practice devout enough to warrant a telegram of condolence from the Pope "To the English People" at his death. Just one more of his innumerable quotable quotes that feels quite contemporary: The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of the Conservatives is to prevent the mistakes from being corrected.  

^{**Matthew 22:34-40 [NRSV]
34} When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, ³⁵ and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ³⁶ “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” ³⁷ He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the greatest and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

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Meditation Moment in Lent ~ Day 14, Give Up, Take On, Pray

I hear and behold God in every object, 

yet understand God not in the least.  

    ~ Walt Whitman* 1819-1892

   Where do you discover God in your life ~ in the woods, on a river, in the mountains, in the living room, on the highway, in church? Have you ever experienced a moment when you were certain you understood God? Have you ever worried that you haven’t had a moment where you understood God, or that you don’t know where to find God?  Or, perhaps you don't want to find God. But for those of us who do...

Almighty, Mystical, Divinity,

     When I was a child, You were in every room, every sunrise, every blade of grass, inside, outside, and all over; and, I understood You, or at least the wonder of You and, who I was to You. And then I grew up - sort of. Where did You go?  Some days it's a struggle to find You anywhere and I'm more uncertain of You than ever. Oh, wait, maybe I'm the one who went...hmmm...SO...for today I'll give up trying to find You anywhere else but here because everywhere I am is here. I'll take on accepting that You are a mystery that doesn't need to be deciphered or comprehended. Lent is good time for me to remember which one of us wandered away and to return, again. I'll pray little thanksgivings as I move through the day and the world around me because You are always here and I truly don't need to know why. amen.

Stop. Sit. Breathe.

On an inhale:   Be Still and Know that I am God 

On an exhale:  Be still and know that I am

Inhale:               Be still and know

Exhale:              Be still 

Inhale:              Be

Stop, sit, breathe, and be…          (above phrasing is from Psalm 46:10)

 

*Walt Whitman is an icon of American poetry, especially for his Leaves of Grass written and revised over nearly 40 years. Also an essayist, journalist, and humanist, Whitman believed that all religions were equal and although he remained a religious skeptic, he did believe that the human soul is immortal and always in a state of progression. A fascinating person, his biography is too extensive for this space but well worth the exploration. He continues to be one of the most influential American poets.  

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Meditation Moment in Lent, Day 13: Give Up, Take On, Pray

      I read once that, if Christianity is so wonderful, why do Christians often look as though they're sucking lemons? Especially in this penitential season of Lent, some of us might be taking it all so seriously that we miss the lightness, the joy, and yes, the humor in life as a Christian. Had a good laugh lately?  Start with a smile...

Oh Jesus,
     There's so much about my relationship with you that I've been taught should be quiet, restrained, serious, and even meek. I've memorized "The Don't List" ~ don't do this, don't do that [ok, so I know that You know that I may have done a don't, or maybe two along the way]. But now that I think about it, surely You had fun with friends, enjoyed a good dinner, and even laughed out loud. I'm starting to realize that I might be less likely to do things on the don't list if I lighten up and experience the wonder of the gift that Your life has given me. For today, I'll give up feeling deprived in Lent. I'll take on finding one thing to laugh out loud about that is good-spirited, delight-full, and soul-satisfying.  I'll pray in thanksgiving for the living legacy of Faith that fills me with eagerness to be a happier reflection of life with You that shines through everything I do.  amen.

    Reinhold Niebuhr [1892-1971] was an American theologian, ethicist, and professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York City for more than 30 years. Two of his most influential books are Moral Man and Immoral Society and The Nature and Destiny of Man. Along with an extensive biography and body of work, Niebuhr was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964, the highest US civilian award. After working with labor and working classes, in 1944 he wrote The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness in which he said, "Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible; but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary." His theo-philosophical perspective became known as Christian Realism. Niebuhr is best known for his "Serenity Prayer" although most often it is only the first few lines that people know.  The following is the complete text as he is said to have written it:

God, give me grace to accept with serenity

the things that cannot be changed,

Courage to change the things

which should be changed,

and the Wisdom to distinguish

the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time,

Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,

Taking, as Jesus did,

This sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it,

Trusting that You will make all things right,

If I surrender to Your will,

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,

And supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.

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Meditation Moment in Lent, Day 12: Give Up, Take On, Pray

 

         In a lifestyle so governed by cell phones, "smart" watches, electronic “assistants,” 4+ different social media platforms, job intensity, crazy traffic, bad weather, home maintenance, laundry,  grocery shopping, meal providing, school events, exercise, sometimes church, sports tv, Xbox, online shopping, all while wearing headphones for music or news or talk radio, streaming video bingeing, and all too rarely a full night's sleep ~ it's no wonder we have difficulty turning off all of the external stimulants of life (and perhaps a few imbibed) and finding a truly quiet moment. What are we teaching our children? 

Guardian of my Soul and Spirit,

        The outside noise is filling me on the inside and shutting You out. I'm so easily distracted by all of the demands and opportunities of "outside" life. Please call me back from the brink of spiritual implosion. For today, I will give up 15 minutes of external stimulation and set a timer to take on sitting alone, quietly, with no agenda but breathing in and breathing out. Yes, I know there's lots of other stuff to do but I will let the thoughts come in and go out. I will let go of the thoughts that want to stick around for questions and analysis. When the timer goes off to signal the end of the time, I will pray for the willingness and follow-through to look for guidance on meditation and the development of an interior/spiritual life.  I need the space, quiet, freedom, and connection with You to help assuage the craziness of the "outside." I know it will feel awkward at first but maybe if I just try on the 15 minute thing for awhile, even if I have to lock myself into the bathroom and let the shower run to keep everyone and everything at bay, it will help me cope better with the other 1,425 minutes in my day.  amen.  

       

Evelyn Underhill [1875-1941] was one of the most widely read authors on Christian mysticism, religion, and spiritual practice in the early years of the 20th Century and continues to be read today. She began her writing with satirical poems moved to novels of heroic mystical journeys, and onto readable treatises on mysticism and The Spiritual Life.  Prominent in the Anglican Church, she was the first woman to give lectures to Anglican clergy as well as the first woman to lead spiritual retreats. Recognized as a theologian, Underhill sought to reconcile the spiritual realm with everyday realities that are in opposition to the Divine but redeemed when revisited with a lens of divine radiance.  Not at all proclaiming reclusiveness as a path to spiritual wholeness she said: "It seems so much easier in these days to live morally than to live beautifully. Lots of us manage to exist for years without ever sinning against society, but we sin against loveliness every hour of the day."

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com