Category Archives: 1 Samuel

Love with the eyes and heart of God

Jesus cures the man born blind
John 9:1-41

But the LORD said to Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

With God as our shepherd, the light of Jesus to illuminate our way, and the Spirit of God to fill us with faith, we have all we need to bring the light of kindness, compassion, reconciliation, and hope to everyone we encounter. We are blessed to participate in carrying out God’s vision of a world where love dissolves the darkness of greed, power struggles, poverty, trauma, grief, and loneliness.

Today I will ask for the grace to see as God sees. I will ask Jesus to heal anything and everything that prevents me from seeing and treating all people as precious, beloved children of God. I will ask the Spirit of God to help me shine the light of love everywhere I may be.

The beauty of the human heart

A.N. Mironov (b.1975) Christ and the Pauper.
Healing of the blind man. Oil on canvas, 2009.

But the Lord said to Samuel,”Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7b

God sees each of us with the eyes of unconditional love. God sees the beauty of our human hearts with their wounds and bruises, their compassion and kindness. God sees each of us as we were made: in the image of God’s own goodness and love.

Lord, spiritual blindness prevents me from seeing myself and others with the eyes of God. Heal my fear, arrogance, and self-centeredness that I may see the hearts of all people and not judge by appearance.

Listen

Resentment, fear, and the desire for retribution are heavy burdens. I would like to let them go, even though the pain of mistreatment goes deep.

Today I will hear and practice what the Lord asks of me: to love, bless, and pray for the people I consider my enemies and all those who have hurt me. Then may the burdens I carry be dissolved into the light of Love and Truth.

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:28

Richard Dadd (British, 1817 – 1886)
Mercy: David Spareth Saul’s Life
oil on canvas, 1854
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