… from Our Light and Our Salvation – Advent reflections from the works of Henri J. M. Nouwen. A timely meditation …
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” John 9:3
We spend a lot of energy wondering who can be blamed for our own or other people’s tragedies, and there is a strange satisfaction in being able to point our finger at someone, even ourselves. It gives us some sort of explanation and offers us some form of clarity.
But Jesus doesn’t allow us to solve our own or other people’s problems through blame. The challenge he poses is to discern in the midst of our darkness the light of God. In Jesus’ vision everything, even the greatest tragedy, can be an occasion in which God’s works can be revealed.
How radically new my life would be if I were willing to move beyond blaming to proclaiming the works of God in our midst. All of us have tragedies. We seldom have control over them. But do we choose to live them as occasions to blame, or as occasions to see God at work?
But Jesus doesn’t allow us to solve our own or other people’s problems through blame. The challenge he poses is to discern in the midst of our darkness the light of God. In Jesus’ vision everything, even the greatest tragedy, can be an occasion in which God’s works can be revealed.
How radically new my life would be if I were willing to move beyond blaming to proclaiming the works of God in our midst. All of us have tragedies. We seldom have control over them. But do we choose to live them as occasions to blame, or as occasions to see God at work?
Prayer – Lord, instead of blaming others, may we spend that energy seeking God and being grateful for God’s many works of grace and nature. Amen.