4th Sunday of Lent, Year A – 2023
From the very beginning, human beings have wanted to be like God (Genesis 3:5).
But it is only gradually that we learn the way to become like him.
One thing we especially need to learn is: TO SEE AS GOD SEES.
This is the message of today’s 1st reading (1 Samuel 16:1,6-7,10-13):
“God does not see as man sees;
man looks at appearances, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
People looking at others can be attracted by beauty.
They can be fascinated by skill.
They can be interested in wealth.
People can be put off by infirmity.
They can be disappointed by weakness.
They can be misled by timidity.
But these are simply attributes that are not the person himself, or herself.
What defines a human being is something much deeper.
The thoughts and the intentions.
The values and the beliefs.
The actions and the reactions.
The interventions to help.
The intercession to free another.
The mediation to bring peace.
And so much more…
God sees all this and more…
And he invites us to look also at all that is hidden in the… more.
Then, we will avoid:
the hasty judgements,
the unfair criticisms,
the wrongful accusations,
the mistaken condemnations.
All that leads to misunderstanding, hostility, conflict, enmity, war –
this can be prevented, or at least alleviated, if we only… SEE.
SEE the good will and the efforts of others…
If we only learn, from day to day, to see as God sees…
Note: In the following video, Laiju Panikassery personifies the Man born-blind and tells us of his meeting with the Man of Nazareth: https://youtu.be/cWtb_kH2Lf0
Another reflection is available, in French, on a different theme, at: https://image-i-nations.com/4e-dimanche-du-careme-de-lannee-a-2023/
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