A blogger commented yesterday: "Blessed are the eyes that see what You see." Eyes to see our neighbors. Our problem is not knowing what's the right thing to do. Our problem is our lack of vision---oh little eyes of faith.
We have had hundreds of conversations these past couple of years about preaching morality. What must I do? Seems today people want preachers to talk about sin and judgment and how to get their way out of it. Tell us what to do, like the Good Samaritan story. Wait, this isn't a good story about morality---what to do. Because, before it is about doing, it is about seeing, just like yesterday's passage.
What did the Priest & the Levite see:
They saw a horrendous hassle on the side of the road not a burden to bear.
They saw obligation and inconvenience not an opportunity to love.
What did the Samaritan see:
He saw his "neighbor." The Hebrew word means "place." Anything surrounding you. Any place you are. What do you see?
What did the Lawyer see in the story:
Lawyers parse their words to make stories come out. Only what COUNTS matters to lawyers on a mission.
Who's on the bus. Who's not. Who's In. Who's Out.
In God's Divine Economy, it's about who fits. So they master the guidelines to live by. Mastering the Rules. Isn't that what some church-goer's want...tell me what to do and I'll go do it and don't mess up our neighborhood with your troubles and tears and toils and tales. I've thought a lot about Job. His friends were willing to sit in silence with him for 7 days---then, the friends decided, THAT'S ENOUGH, Job. Draw a line in the sand and move on. When was the last time anyone lost 10 kids and beyond?
Somewhere in 66 LL it says, we all have cancer of the soul. We don't need opened eyes, we need a transplant for what ails us. The Bible is not an instruction manual or life coaching. We need Eyes to see His Kingdom, His Love----so deep and wide and strong and high.
Eyes to see like Mary who sat at Jesus feet and let the dishes go. Serving Jesus is not the ultimate goal. Martha welcomed him into her home to serve Him. But, it's also about listening to Him. And seeing with eyes of faith in the midst of arguments and betrayals and dismissals and rejections and dishes. Remember, yesterday, He said: "The one who hears you, hears God." Yes, it's about listening and seeing with eyes wide open.
Mary saw and chose the One Thing Necessary, Luke 10:42.
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ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Bev. We don't need eyes so much as a heart transplant that gives us the right attitude toward what we see. Then, may we put down the dishes long enough to choose the better. No formulas like the lawyer wanted, no 1-2-3 "How To" manual like I tend to demand. No, loopholes like the lawyer asked, "who is my neighbor?"
ReplyDeleteI had never heard that neighbor meant "place." That stirs me-any place you are!
For eyes to see His Kingdom and for hearts that respond--that's my prayer this beautiful April Sunday.
I can't tell you how good it was to talk with you today! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Annette. Love!
ReplyDeleteI remembered that concept I was trying to convey--it's called the Jonah complex - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonah_Complex
ReplyDeleteAnd I loved talking with you--so sweet to share life together. Praying today, this morning.