This week, I am sharing with you something different.
In following the weekly prayer and healing meditations offered by the Sisters of the IHM, Michigan, USA, I was touched by the words of Scripture presented for this fifth week of Lent:
Mark 10:17-21 NIV -The Rich and the Kingdom of God
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
These are the adapted words of Sister Lynne Moldenhauser, IHM:
Seeing as Jesus sees; not seeing whom or what Jesus sees but as Jesus sees. In this passage from Mark, you will find our instruction, “Jesus, looking at him, loved him”. Scripture scholars believe that this is the only reference in the Gospels where Jesus is said to love someone. We all know that love was the root of Jesus’ life, but this explicit statement is an invitation to us. We know that what Jesus says after this statement is a deep disappoint to the man because it demands something which is extremely difficult; “sell all and give it to the poor”.
However, the focus of this passage is on the “looking” and the “loving”. How often in the Gospels do we hear of Jesus healing the “seeing” issues for people? That rich challenge in Matthew 7 about seeing the speck in our neighbor’s eye, but ignoring the log in our own. Or the passage in Matthew 6 of the eye being the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is unhealthy; your whole body will be full of darkness.
Seeing is an important ability to have – but seeing in a deeper way than simple vision. Many things can impair our ability to see. Our biases can trap us into thinking we own the truth in any given situation or group of people or events.
We are inundated, more than ever, with stories, commercials, social media posting, etc. that attempt to impress upon us the “truth”. What we accept in our lives as truth is how we see. We all do this.
But Jesus shows us a different way. Before we decide about a group of people, or events, can we hold off on reacting and do this one beautiful, difficult task?
Just pause, and recall these words “Jesus, looking at him, loved him”. Let us take the time for that long loving look in all that we encounter, throughout Lent and beyond.
In closing, I would like to share with you “A Blessing "For Solitude", by John O' Donohue
May you recognize in your life the presence, power and light of your soul.
May you realize that you are never alone, that your soul in its brightness and belonging connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe.
May you have respect for your own individuality and difference.
May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique, that you have a special destiny here, that behind the facade of your life there is something beautiful and eternal happening.
May you learn to see your self with the same delight, pride, and expectation with which God sees you in every moment.
Pastor Beryl, DLM