I Have Sight But Do I See?

 

"He Comes to Serve"-Timothy P. Schmalz, sculptor

"Service is what prayer looks like when it gets up off its knees and walks around in the world." ~Michael J. Graham S.J.

👀 Some days we're not sure if what we do matters.  Do people really notice if we smile at them, wave them into our lane, comment that they look nice, or text them that we were thinking about them?       

Are they better off for having spent time with us?  Do they leave feeling encouraged, uplifted, more confident, or wondering why we are the way we are?  

👀 Do they notice what we're not doing?  The world is negative, afraid, agitated by small things, full of anxiety with the world events, gossiping, belittling, or proud, and (hopefully) we're not?

After Jesus died, rose again and ascended into heaven, the disciples, including Peter and John, became the early church.  They spread the news about Jesus, influencing many to believe, but facing immense criticism and were arrested by synagogue leaders for healing a crippled man on the Sabbath.  

"Saint Peter and Saint John Healing a Cripple

at the Entrance to the Temple"- Cigoli

"They brought in the two disciples and demanded, 'By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?' 

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, 'Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we've done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but who God raised from the dead.  For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, 

'The stone that you builders rejected 

has now become the cornerstone.' 

 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures.  They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus." Acts 4:7-13

Peter and John didn't just graduate from seminary; they had spent time with Jesus and because of that their actions and words demonstrated who Jesus was and why He came. 

 

The Disciples Peter and John running to the Tomb

on the Morning of the Resurrection"~ Burnand, 1898

Of course they were special as having literally been with Christ during His days on earth, but we have just as much, in a different way.  His Spirit is in us, as believers, and we have His Word that we can read, reread, study and pray through.  

"The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.  And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you." Rom 8: 11

The bottom line is that God wants to use us, can use us, and will use us if we just look for the opportunities He puts in our paths.  If we ask Him to cause us to be available to Him, to give us His eyes to see those who go unseen, His hands to love those who feel unloved, and His feet to go to the places He leads us, we can serve others for Him.  

Some days I get pretty caught up in me.  I am the center of my universe at that moment and everything that happens affects me and why is the world not seeing that?  O Lord, help me!

👀 Jesus was always focused on others during His time on earth. Our Lord washed His disciples' feet out of humility to show that we are to build one another up with honor and love.  

Let's follow His example. Whose feet can you 'wash' today?

✙ Heavenly Father, open our eyes today.  May Your forgiveness towards us compel us to notice, forgive and serve others out of gratitude for the way You served us by giving Your life for us.  You give us all the good things we need, so please let it pass through us to show others Your Goodness.  Amen.