Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)
Psalm 30
Revelation 5:11-14
John 21:1-19
Easter is the season of awakening – the risen Christ awakens us to the proof that God's love can't be compromised by anything, even as humanity stoops to its lowest point. We become aware that we are, indeed, children of God, and that we are really all one family, all loved by God. God yearns for our companionship, wanting us to be one with this unity.
But seeing the truth about this love is less likely if our minds are pre-occupied with something else, something false, something sinister.
The readings for today show several examples of this. Paul (then Saul) could not see the loving truth about Christ because he was filled with a misguided hatred for the new Christians. He was "breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord," and was actively persecuting them. Who could think clearly with all this on his mind?
Even Peter and some of the disciples initially failed to recognize Christ standing along the shore of the Sea of Tiberias. Why couldn't they see clearly through to him? Perhaps their minds were still reeling from the events of the past Easter weekend as well as reflecting on their whole experience of Jesus' ministry. They were still somewhat confused and uncertain about what to do. Filled with grief and lack of direction, they returned to the things with which they were most familiar. Peter finally said, "I'm going fishing."
Even today, we don't often see clearly. We often miss the presence of Christ in our lives because we have our minds focused on something else we think is important. Our awareness of his presence in our lives is often clouded in varying degrees by things that have been given birth in our false selves; things like fear, worry, shame, prejudices, self-pride, power-lust, or even lack of self-esteem.
Luke (the presumed author of the Acts of the Apostles) describes the inability of Paul to see clearly as having "scales" over his eyes. After he had been helped by a man named Ananias, Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit, "and immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored." He could now see clearly because the scales of his hatred fell away.
From this point on, Paul had an understanding of God's love, the interconnectedness of all people under God's family, and the truth about life itself.
When the disciples listened to the man on the shore trying to help them, they suddenly realized who it was. "It is the Lord," they shouted. And when they finally recognized Jesus in their lives, they went to him, and were renewed.
The scales in our lives are usually things that have attached themselves to us from the shadows of our past, or are pulling us into the illusions of the future. The only place we can see clearly is in the present moment. One of the first things we can do to remove the scales from our eyes is to recognize these visitors from the past, or these tempters of the future. They will all rob you of life today. Awareness of them, seeing them for what they are, is 80% of the victory.
Then, work with your spiritual support team to shed more of God's Light on these scales. The more of this Light that shines, the fewer of these shadows can survive. None of these scales are from God – they do not belong to you as part of your true self. The full Light shines in the NOW, the portal to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Leave the past to God's mercy, and the future to God's providence. God's love is in the Present.
Reflection Questions
1. What scales are blocking you from seeing "straight," from seeing how much love God has for you?
2. Who can help you bring Light to the scales in your life?
3. How can thinking about the past help you in the Present Moment?
4. Read through the scripture lessons for this Sunday again, and spend some time journaling your thoughts.
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