WHAT DO YOU SEE?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “What Do You See?”

TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s readings for this 4^th Sunday in Lent - are all about seeing.

The first reading is all about the choice of David and the anointing of David as the future leader of Israel.

Seven of Jesse’s sons are presented to him - and Samuel seeing them says, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is here before me.”

And the Lord says, “Do not judge by appearance.”

Then the Lord adds, “Not as man does God see, because man sees the appearance - but the Lord looks into the heart.”

Then Samuel asks Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

I always wonder how the seven brothers felt when they heard that.

I say that because one of life’s biggest learnings is that the youngest in every family is always the best. The parents finally got it right.  Are there any only child here?

And Jesse says, “There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.”

And Samuel says, “Send for him. We don’t begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.”

So Jesse sent for his youngest son and when Samuel sees him - the best looking of the sons - which to me is sort of contradictory - after we had heard about not judging by appearance, Samuel says, “There - anoint him, for this is the one.”

“Then Samuel with the horn of oil in hand, anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David.”

Great scene - perfect for movies - and plays.

The second reading from Ephesians begins with the words, “You were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light….”

These are great baptismal texts.

Being a Christian is all about seeing the Light - and being the Light of the world - and not spending our lives living in the dark.

Today’s gospel - today’s long gospel - is all about the Blind Man.

We are called to see - and no longer be blind.

We are called to let Christ be the Light of our World. We are called to let Christ touch our eyes - so that we can see better.

The title of my homily is, “What Do You See?”

CHARLIE BROWN CARTOON

Last night when I was working on this homily I remembered a Charlie Brown cartoon from way, way back.  Using Google I found it.

It’s a cartoon that has always got me thinking about what I see and that people see differently - something I often forget.

Being self-centered - I often assume everyone sees the way I see.

You’re kidding.  Nope.

Well, the Charlie Brown cartoon goes like this. Lucy, Linus and Charlie Brown are laying on the grass on a hill looking up into the sky.

Lucy says, “Aren’t the clouds beautiful. They look like big balls of cotton. I can just lie here all day and watch them drift by. If you use your imagination you can see lots of things in the cloud formations.”

Then Lucy says, “What do you see up there Linus?”

And Linus answers, “Well those clouds up there look like the map of British Honduras on the Caribbean.

“That cloud up there looks a little bit like the profile of Thomas Eakins the Painter and the Sculptor.

“And that group of clouds up there look like the stoning of Stephen. I can see the apostle Paul standing there off to one side.”

And Lucy says, “Uh huh. That’s very good.”

Then Lucy asks, “What do you see in the clouds Charlie Brown?”

And Charlie answers, “Well I was going to say I saw a ducky and a horsy but I changed my mind.”

For some reason that cartoon has taught me one of life’s great lessons: We all don’t see the same.”

The title of my homily is, “What Do You See?

CHRISTIANITY IS ALL ABOUT HOW WE SEE AND SEEING BETTER

Christianity is all about how we see, what we see, and seeing better.

Lent is all about seeing better on Easter Sunday morning than how we saw on Ash Wednesday.

This morning I went over to our religious education program - to see some kids in our Special Needs class.

It’s always wonderful to walk through St. Mary’s or here at St. John Neumann and see all the things that are going on: whether it’s a Spanish Mass or Baptisms, a soup supper, kids playing lacrosse, people making Ranger Rosaries, a Bible Study Group, a Woman’s Spirituality meeting, kids running in the parking lot, 2 weddings yesterday, and all the Masses, stations of the cross, kids selling mulch or adults pushing tootsie rolls.

Today I got the thought that every kid is a special needs kid.

Do I see kids - do I see adults - do I see the person on the edge of the crowd -  as a special needs person?

Or am I too self-centered that I only see myself - and my special needs?

Am I like the Pharisees in today’s Gospel who are so wrapped up in their understanding of religion - that they can’t celebrate a blind man healed and now he sees.

Do I see and hear today’s gospel - today’s long gospel - that’s it’s all about me being blind and me learning to see?

Do I see and hear today’s second reading - that church is all about coming into a well-lighted place - so that I can walk out of this place - and see better for the rest of this week?

Do I see and hear today’s first reading - that I was once anointed with oil - in my baptism - that I am anointed and appointed - by the Lord to make a difference - our theme for this year - in the places I am this year.

CONCLUSION

When I get that - when I come out of that cloud - hopefully I feel what David felt for the rest of his life: the rush of the spirit - well not always - but hopefully a lot, please God. Amen.

OOOOOOO 

Painting on top: by Alex Colville