Blindness Led to New Sight

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 9:1-20 ~~~ Psalm 117 ~~~ John 6:52-59 ~~~

 

Jesus gave Saul a resurrection experience...

his sight was restored after three days.

Sometimes God must blind us in order to grab our attention.

Sometimes God must blind us in order

to give us new eyes with which to see the world.

Sometimes God must blind us

because it is the only way to get our attention.

 

During Saul's 'darkness' he abstained from food and drink.

Depriving his physical body in this way allowed him

to be more focused on his experience. 

He was entombed with the presence of God.

His senses were heightened without his sight.

The spirit of God had taken hold of his whole body, mind, and spirit. 

It is difficult to imagine being in that state and not be forever changed...

which indeed Paul was.

After this encounter with the power of God he was a new person....

he was reborn into what God had planned for him to become.

 

I wonder if today God still uses such extreme conversion experiences?

The closest I can imagine is the experiences I often have with music.

 

"...this man is a chosen instrument of mine
to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel,
and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name."

 

 

When Paul's sight was restored I believe

 the whole world appeared to be brighter to him.

We see things through our internal lens.

If we are filled with darkness

then all that we see will be darkness and evil.

On the other hand if we are filled with the light of Christ

 then we will see the good in the world around us.

 

Notice for yourself; see if your attitude effects

how you see everything around you.

I am reminded of Blessed Mother Teresa,

she had reason to see the darkness around her

 but she chose to see goodness.

She chose to spread compassion and loving kindness to others. 

 

Where are you?

How do you see the world around you?

Does your vision need an overhaul?

Can you see with new eyes?

 

 Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

 

I was blind and now I see.

Easter Blessings!

The Belly of Conversion

~~~ Jonah 3:1-10 ~~~ Psalm 51 ~~~ Luke 11:29-32 ~~~

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

Every year during the season of Lent we are given the opportunity to repent.

The people of Nineveh proclaimed a fast put on sackcloth and covered themselves with ashes.

The entire city joined in this great outward sign of conversion,

including the king.

Today we are not being asked to take part in such a public

demonstration of our repentance.

But we are being called to return to the same God...

the same God that sent Jonah to bring the people to conversion.

Even the king of the city got the message and made

the personal decision to also repent.

No matter who tells you to repent it will always be your personal decision.

The people of Nineveh were so moved to respond to the message

delivered through Jonah that they even imposed this fast upon their animals.

I do find this curious since the animals had nothing for which to repent.

Perhaps the message here is that all of creation bows to God

and is made holy by the creator himself.

Or the people could have just been going to the extreme with their penance.

The important fact is; they heard the message and they acted accordingly.

When Jonah does finally surrender his control to God the results are far reaching.

Jonah was taken into the darkness of the belly of the great fish.

 It is there, in the place of darkness and isolation, that Jonah was  

able to give up all control of his life.

This place where he did not want to be became his greatest saving grace from God.

It is here where God is finally able to get his attention.

Jonah was deprived of what he previously knew to be his life.

From the belly of the great fish, God led Jonah

 into a greater life more closely aligned with God's plan for his life.

There have most likely been times in my life and your life

where we did not want to give up control to God.

Sometimes he, God, must take us deeper and deeper until finally

we have no other option but to say 'I surrender'.

God brings us to the depths into the darkness

to teach us to rely completely on him.

When we have no where else to turn he is there...

in the darkness...

when we feel isolated...

when we feel abandoned...

he is there.

He is there waiting to bring forth wondrous things from

his humbled servant.

Sometimes it is hard to pray the words...

Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will...

especially when it pains you with perceived loss.

The presence of God is with you in the darkest of times.

Freedom in the Spirit

~~~ Acts 16: 22-34 ~~~ Ps. 138 ~~~ John 16: 5-11 ~~~

In Acts today we hear a powerful conversion story of a prison guard.

His job was very important and he took it seriously.

Not only his life depended on how well he did his job,

but his family's well being would have also been in jeopardy

 had he failed in any way.

On this particular occasion all was going as usual...the hymns of praise and worship could be heard from the cell of Paul and Silas...and they were under lock and key.

They even had shackles around their ankles which were staked to the ground.

Suddenly without warning a strong earthquake shook the jail, opened the cell doors, and the chains were all pulled loose.

Now this is the stuff movies like to portray but the guard was in fear for his life that the prisoners had escaped. But to his surprise that was not the plan of God. Instead God wanted to demonstrate his power to the guard which resulted in his conversion.

This conversion story is given to us as one more example of how God went about touching the lives and hearts of the early church. God wants people from all walks of life to come follow him.

The message Jesus came to deliver was for all people not just a chosen few.

We have each been called by name.

In John's Gospel Jesus is addressing the grief of his disciples at just the thought of not having his presence with them. He has revealed to them that he is going to the one who sent him...the Father. Jesus is trying to get them to grasp a very difficult concept...that of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate. He says if I do not leave the Holy Spirit cannot come down upon you.

We know now that the Holy Spirit did come down to the people. We know now that the Holy Spirit is here and will be here for all time. We can no longer see Jesus but his presence is with us through the presence of the Holy Spirit.

As a human person Jesus was limited as to whom he could physically reach, but now all physical limitations are gone. Through the Resurrection the chains of death were broken and the Spirit was sent forth to all.

Just as the earthquake broke the chains of Paul and Silas in the prison.

The movement of the Spirit is free and inspires the hearts of all

who are open to receiving.

True freedom comes from living in the Spirit of God.

True freedom is living in love not in fear.

If there is anything in your life that is keeping you in shackles ask God to intervene. Tell him you must rely on him. Tell him you believe he can free you in mind body and soul. The prison guard had his fears dissolved as soon as he was assured that all was as it should be...they, the prisoners, had not endangered his life

by claiming their own freedom.

Blinded by the Light

Well as the saying goes...the best laid plans of mice and men...or something along those lines. Just got our power restored after hours without. Yeah!

Acts of the Apostles 22:3-16

Sometimes God does something extraordinary ot get your attention as in the case of St. Paul who's feast we celebrate today. I have always been able to get a picture in my mind of what this event must have been like. It is described so visually well. Paul going about his business of persecuting Christians is riding his horse feeling all pompous about himself. When "bam" out of nowhere he finds himself sprawled on the ground. The space around him is filled with a blinding light, so now he cannot see, followed by a faceless voice. This is a story we can visualize. Funny isn't it? Paul is blinded and we can see clearly.

Today if someone claims to hear voices our medical professionals prescribe drugs, but not in Paul's time. The voice of Jesus is heard by Paul...'Why are you persecuting me?'

Paul has to be shocked in order for God to get his attention. Hmmmm.

Paul has to be knocked down to the ground in order for him to hear the voice of God. Hmmmm.

Paul has to be blinded by light in order for God to lead him out of his darkness. Hmmmm.

Paul has to be led by another to have his sight restored. Hmmmm.

And finally Paul is baptized by water for the forgiveness of his sins. Hmmm.

Any messages here for us? I think so.

We often go about our daily lives as if we are in bumper cars. That is only responding when we are 'bumped' by another person or event in our life. We may not actively be persecuting others as Paul was, but we too need God to get our attention once in a while. It even happens to me occasionally when I am attending Mass. One idea or concept in the readings will 'ping' me right between the eyes.

People can be brought into the light out of their darkness through the support of their family and community. Our faithfulness to the promises of Christ can be the catalyst needed for helping others emerge from their darkness. We need one another.

When you are knocked down to the ground you have two choices; stay there and focus on the ground around you or look up and focus on how to get back on your feet.

Whenever I staff a retreat I pray that I will be open to how the Holy Spirit will use me.

I invite you to sit with the events of Paul's conversion and see how they connect with your life.
Answering the questions of when, where, how, why, and how.

I must close as my power fluctuates again threatening to shut me down.

The original picture: a cut crystal bottle.

I chose this photo because crystal captures and reflects light in a magnificant way.

This kaleidoscope image reflects the many facets of light surrounding us everyday.