Fourth Sunday in Lent Year A 19th March 2023
Lectionary Readings: 1 Samuel 16 v1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5 v8-14; John 9 v1-41.
Recognising God at work.
I wonder what young David made of the prophet Samuel anointing him as the next king? One minute, tending a flock of sheep, the next, commissioned by God, to care for the people of God.
Scripture doesn’t suggest that David was aware of his destiny, but it does say something about what God recognised in David.
God said to Samuel, “People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts.” (1 Samuel 16 v7b). God saw the potential in David to be a better king than Saul, one who was willing to work for the benefit of the people of Israel.
David wasn’t a perfect king and he disappointed God occasionally. But he knew that God loved him and was willing to forgive him if he turned to God in prayer.
David recognised God at work within him, and out of his gratitude he wrote many psalms, including the most famous of all, Psalm 23. “You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need. Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live for ever in your house, Lord.” (Psalm 23 v1,6).
The apostle Paul, urged believers in Ephesus to recognise that the Holy Spirit was at work within and through them. Paul said, “You used to be like people living in the dark, but now you are people of the light because you belong to the Lord. So act like people of the light and make your light shine. Be good and honest and truthful.” (Ephesians 5 v8,9).
In the gospel reading Jesus heals a man born blind. The unnamed man recognised that God was able to work his healing miracle through Jesus. The man challenged the temple leaders to acknowledge that Jesus was a man after God’s own heart. He said, “Jesus could not do anything unless he came from God.” (John 9 v33).
Hymn writer Rosemary Wakelin urges us to recognise that God works through his people.
(Singing the Faith 687 v 1,2,4).
One human family God has made and all for each to care.
One world, to be the home of all, with all its wealth to share.
One Christ, to manifest on earth love’s ultimate design.
One Church to know the mystery of broken bread and wine.
One race, one world – yet torn apart, we spurn the way of love.
But still ahead, the Christ leads on and calls his Church to move
from love of power to power of love, to give the world to all-
to trust the love that conquered death, outside the city wall.
Claim him who claims us for his own, to share his pain and grief,
to bear the scars that stamp us his – the hallmark of belief.
As partners of the living Christ, who risk the path he trod,
with wondering love we find we share the timeless joy of God.
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English Version.