His Works Manifest Through Us

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 9:27 am Post subject: His Works Manifest Through Us

His Works Manifest Through Us

Scripture:

And the Lord said to Samuel: How long will you mourn for Saul, whom I have rejected from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and come, that I may send you to Isai, the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

And when they were come in, he saw Eliab, and said: Is the anointed of the Lord before him? And the Lord said to Samuel: Look not on his countenance, nor on the height of his stature: because I have rejected him, nor do I judge according to the look of man: for man sees those things that appear, but the Lord beholds the heart.

Isai, therefore, brought his seven sons before Samuel: and Samuel said to Isai: The Lord has not chosen any one of these. And Samuel said to Isai: Are here all your sons? He answered: There remains yet a young one, who keeps the sheep. And Samuel said to Isai: Send, and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. He sent therefore and brought him. Now he was ruddy and beautiful to behold, and of a comely face. And the Lord said: Arise, and anoint him, for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward: and Samuel rose up, and went to Ramatha. (1 Samuel 16: 1, 6-7, 10-13)

For you were heretofore darkness, but now light in the Lord. Walk then as children of the light. For the fruit of the light is in all goodness and justice and truth: Proving what is well pleasing to God. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness: but rather reprove them. For the things that are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for all that is made manifest is light. Wherefore he said: Rise, you that sleep, and arise from the dead: and Christ shall enlighten you. (Ephesians 5:8-14)

And Jesus passing by, saw a man who was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him: Rabbi, who has sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind? Jesus answered: Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night comes, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

When he had said these things, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and spread the clay upon his eyes, and said to him: Go, wash in the pool of Siloe, which is interpreted, Sent. He went therefore and washed: and he came seeing. The neighbors, therefore, and they who had seen him before that he was a beggar, said: Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said: This is he. But others said: No, but he is like him. But he said: I am he. They said therefore to him: How were your eyes opened? He answered: That man that is called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me: Go to the pool of Siloe and wash. And I went: I washed: and I see. And they said to him: Where is he? He said: I know not.

They bring him that had been blind to the Pharisees. Now it was the sabbath, when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Again therefore the Pharisees asked him how he had received his sight. But he said to them: He put clay upon my eyes: and I washed: and I see. Some therefore of the Pharisees said: This man is not of God, who keeps not the sabbath. But others said: How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say therefore to the blind man again: What say you of him that has opened your eyes? And he said: He is a prophet.

The Jews then did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight, and asked them, saying: Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see? His parents answered them and said: We know that this is our son and that he was born blind: But how he now sees, we know not: or who has opened his eyes, we know not. Ask himself: he is of age: Let him speak for himself. These things his parents said, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had already agreed among themselves that if any man should confess him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore did his parents say: He is of age. Ask himself.

They therefore called the man again that had been blind and said to him: Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner. He said therefore to them: If he be a sinner, I know not. One thing I know, that whereas I was blind. now I see. They said then to him: What did he to you? How did he open your eyes? He answered them: I have told you already, and you have heard. Why would you hear it again? Will you also become his disciples? They reviled him therefore and said: Be you his disciple; but we are the disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses: but as to this man, we know not from whence he is. The man answered and said to them: why, herein is a wonderful thing, that you know not from whence he is, and he has opened my eyes. Now we know that God does not hear sinners: but if a man be a server of God and does his will, him he hears. From the beginning of the world it has not been heard, that any man has opened the eyes of one born blind. Unless this man were of God, he could not do anything. They answered and said to him: You were wholly born in sins; and do you teach us? And they cast him out.

Jesus heard that they had cast him out. And when he had found him, he said to him: Do you believe in the Son of God? He answered, and said: Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him? And Jesus said to him: you have seen him; and it is he that talks with you. And he said: I believe, Lord. And falling down, he adored him. And Jesus said: For judgment I am come into this world: that they who see not may see; and they who see may become blind. And some of the Pharisees, who were with him, heard: and they said unto him: Are we also blind? Jesus said to them: If you were blind, you should not have sin: but now you say: We see. Your sin remains. (John 9:1-41)

Reflection:

We sometimes wonder, for what purpose did God create us? Are we here only to spend time, to be window dressing for some other story, or did He place us in the womb of our mother so we might have a role in the stories of loved ones, families, friends, communities, and nations?

We might be tempted to believe we are faceless within the world. We might be tempted to believe that only a special few are called by God. We might be tempted to believe there is nothing significant we can accomplish with all of the world and society arrayed against us. We might be tempted to believe there is little value to our talents. We might be tempted to believe we are simply here to exist, that we have little meaning in the scheme of things. We might be tempted to believe we are simply here to suffer the whimsical winds of fortune and tragedy.

What, then, should we do if we believe we are but insignificant lives among the billions conceived across the generations? How are we to look at our future? How are we to fill in the time between our birth and our passing? How are we to know what use God may make of us?

In stories, such as those of Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David; it is not clear to us why these children of His creation were chosen to do the works of God other than what was in their heart. In stories such as those of Ruth, Esther, Elizabeth, and Mary; we do not know how their faith grew within them, but what we see are examples of courage, love and obedience to His will. Yes, God has lifted up kings, but He has also lifted up the lowly to do great things. No matter, then, where we believe we exist in the hierarchy of society, no matter what others tell us of what they believe to be our limitations; if we trust in our Lord, His will can be accomplished through us. The question, then, is will we listen for Him; and if we hear His voice, will we say yes and allow Him to guide us in our work? Will we allow His works to be manifest through us?

We might be tempted to ask, ?How can I, a lowly sinner, do the works of which God may ask?? Because of our sin, we might be tempted to believe, there is nothing good which may come from us. The evil one seduces us to believe that only those without sin may do the works of God, but then, who is without sin? It is true, He asks us to turn from our sin, but, we must also remember that God has called to sinners so that as they turn to Him, His will may be done through them. Blessed are those who said, ?Yes,? even when they did not know all which was to come.

We are tempted to judge others due to their circumstance. So it was, as the disciples pondered the man born blind, they asked of their teacher, whose sin caused the misfortune of this man. The response of Jesus was not the sin of this man or his parents, but so ?the works of God should be made manifest in him.?

If we examine the miracle to follow, Jesus could have easily healed the blind man simply by willing it. Instead, the Son of God made mud from the earth and saliva, smeared it on the eyes of the blind man, and told the man to go wash in the pool of Siloam. The results of the miracle Jesus put in motion was not immediate. It required the blind man to listen, trust, and do what was asked of him. Essentially, as Jesus gave His instruction, He was also asking the blind man to respond and participate in bringing forth the results or the miracle.

In this moment, the blind man had a choice. He could have dismissed this person as an abusive mischief maker. He could have fled to avoid what he might have perceived as the taunting of a poor beggar. Instead, the man born blind heard and chose to obey. He did not know what would come from the washing he was asked to perform. Jesus did not preface His instruction with what the result would be. He simply told the blind man to go wash.

In scripture, we see many grand events and miracles. We see how God called to many to participate in His works. We see the results of their obedience. While these are great stories of faith and inspiration, we should not be fooled to believe that only a few are called to do His work. We may not be asked to be kings, warriors, or prophets. We may not be asked to participate in great miracles, for God also works in many little ways, but every time He calls, it requires someone to say, ?Yes.?

Though stories are written of great deeds and miracles, we must not overlook that His will is accomplished by all who live according to His commandments of love. A simple sharing of His Word, a small act of kindness, a word of encouragement, a faithful reflection, a simple prayer, the alms of the poor; indeed many small actions, what we might even consider insignificant, yield the blessing of His will.

Let us, then, not be complacent in our ways, but, in prayer, ask that He reveal to our hearts what we may do to fulfill His purpose for us. Let us open our hearts in obedience to Him. If we should hear His voice, let us say, ?Yes.? As we ponder our place, let us remember, it matters not what is written about us within this world, only what is written in the hearts of those God sends across our path. Let us, then, allow His Word to be our guide and love to be the scribe within the hearts of all who surround us.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways may we discover the talents God has placed within us?

In what ways may we seek for God to enlighten us in how we may use our talents?

In what ways may we allow the work of God to be manifest through us?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier