Day 16: Be Opened
“They brought to Jesus a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech… so Jesus put fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’
And immediately his ears were opened and his tongue was released.”
~Mark 7:32-35
“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil.”
(you’ve probably heard this phrase before)
(you’ve probably heard this phrase before)
It’s a Buddhist proverb--often illustrated by monkeys--indicating that our eyes, ears and words should not dwell on evil (which is true).
“Do no harm” was the first of John Wesley’s ‘3 Simple Rules’ for the early Methodist movement. And it is certainly a good place to start, but “see no evil” can also be confused with looking away from injustice;
shutting our ears can mean we ignore the cry of the needy;
and silence is not the same as plainly speaking the truth.
….so Jesus urges us beyond. Far from hiding his eyes from brokenness, Jesus opens to it—bringing healing and hope. Saying, “see! hear! speak! Be opened!” And, indeed, the Holy Spirit opens our eyes and ears of the world. Christ opens our mouth to proclaim hope and faith and resurrection to ourselves and others.
shutting our ears can mean we ignore the cry of the needy;
and silence is not the same as plainly speaking the truth.
….so Jesus urges us beyond. Far from hiding his eyes from brokenness, Jesus opens to it—bringing healing and hope. Saying, “see! hear! speak! Be opened!” And, indeed, the Holy Spirit opens our eyes and ears of the world. Christ opens our mouth to proclaim hope and faith and resurrection to ourselves and others.
Wesley’s second rule was an active call to “Do good.”
This season of Lent is a time to close ourselves off from things that separate us from God, but it is also a time to actively open to the Holy Spirit working in our life.
P.S. Wesley’s 3rd rule was to “Stay in Love with God”
Prayer Practice:
Embodied Prayer.
Embodied Prayer.
Find a posture of ‘openness’ (pretty much anything with your palms up will work—sit or kneel with hands resting on your knees, stand with your arms wide and your face towards the heavens….) and take a few breaths.
Slowly, pray something like this:
Slowly, pray something like this:
“Father Son and Holy Spirit, I am open.
Open to Your will. Open to Your work.
Open to Your will. Open to Your work.
I am open to You.”
Today's artwork is by Michel Keck
Comments
Post a Comment