Daily Readings - Sun Mar 19 2023
1 Samuel
1And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.6And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him.7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.10Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.11And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.12And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.13Then 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. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
Ephesians
8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:9For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
John
1And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.6When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,7And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.8The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?9Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.13They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.14And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.15Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.16Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.17They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.34They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.35Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?36He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?37And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.38And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true sight and judgment. In the first reading, Samuel is sent to anoint a new king, but he learns that God does not choose based on outward appearance. Despite Eliab's impressive stature, it is David, the youngest and seemingly insignificant, who is chosen. This reminds us that God sees beyond the surface, looking instead into the heart.
In the Gospel, Jesus heals a man born blind, yet the Pharisees fail to see the miracle's true significance. They are blinded by their own judgments and traditions, unable to recognize the divine work before them. The healed man, however, comes to faith, acknowledging Jesus as a prophet. This contrast highlights the difference between physical and spiritual sight.
Ephesians encourages us to live as children of light, producing fruits of goodness, justice, and truth. This light should guide us to see beyond appearances and to act with integrity. Let us ask for the grace to look beyond the external, to judge with compassion, and to live in the light of Christ, allowing His truth to illuminate our path.