Fourth Sunday in Lent - Year A

Welcome Statement

Good Morning Church, Last week we reflected on the difference between physical water, and the spiritual water we receive through the Spirit. This week, we find ourselves back in the story of 1st Samuel. Samuel is beside himself, trying to figure out what to do, Saul has been rejected as the King of Israel by YHWH. YHWH (God) has removed his favor from Saul for his consistent disobedience and lack of trust in manners concerning the Kingdom.

Old Testament Reading - 1 Samuel 16:1-13

1 Samuel 16:1–13 NRSV

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

A Prophet Struggles to See

Samuel the Prophet clearly sees that Saul has lost favor in the sight of the Lord, but he does not see a way out of this mess, he is certain Saul will kill him for losing divine favor. It harkens back to an issue we see a lot, where religion is intersected with physical power in ways that it is used as a means to end. A reason the protestant reformation happened, in medieval times, where churches were used to provide divine favor to certain kingdoms over other ones, not unlike the same rhetoric we see today where people believe their candidate was chosen by God, or that their team was given a divine favor

Godly Sight vs Human Sight - A difference in Anointing

Anointing in the Bible means to be set apart. One important thing Methodists really emphasize, is the ways with which God acts, and how it is all God, not the person, the person is at best, a vessel or server of that grace. IT is how we approach communion, but it’s also how we approach anointing. You see, anointing oil as an example, is used to set someone or something apart, but the oil is a physical affirmation, at the end of the day, it is oil, but it is God who uses that sign of the cross, to provide healing and comfort, the person does the anointing, the physical act of Care, and God leans through it. Samuel can’t see how David might be the next King, he has no status, and he is not very strong. Yet the fabled story we all know about David is that he defeats goliath. The same is true for us pastors, we don’t always see how our anointing ability is actually used by God, we don’t always see how it moves through the hearts of those we visit or give care to, but God somehow uses us, guides us, through that thumbprint of a cross we leave, to heal others in ways the human eyes cannot see. It is the mystery of the light of Christ. Samuel is convinced things are going to be rough, but David brings Israel essentially into a golden age, that is only stopped short by his own failings, which show how he is human, and pointing to the one we call Christ.

New Testament Reading - John 9:1-41

John 9:1–9 NRSV

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.”

After this, is a long dialogue where the neighbors and then Pharisees try to figure out how this man now sees, and are then lectured to by the blind man, then we go up to verse 32

John 9:32–41 NRSV

Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out. Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

Atypical Anointing

Anointed/Set apart with mud, not oil, but showing that even those seen as less than dirt are chosen by God.

Judgement for the seeing, and for the blind

Rich and blind are both forgiven 70x7.

Justice will come for those who remain spiritually blind, and God will not let the

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The Pharisees who See are now Blind, But not really

The Pharisees recognize Jesus is saying they are blind, but they misunderstand the point. Jesus shows that they can see their sin but the blind themselves to the truth anyways, they can’t accept the radical truth.

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Closing Statement

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Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, adfs asdfa

Amen.

Doxology / Benediction / Closing

May you Have a Blessed Sunday, and rest of your Week! Amen!