Eye Exam

Acts 9: 1-22

Reflection: “Phoropter” is the fancy name for that weird instrument that your eye doctor uses to test your eyesight. (Better here? Or here? Or about the same?) When the doctor asks you those questions, he or she is really asking: has your eyesight changed or has it stayed the same? To put it another way: Are you okay with where you are – or do you require a change to help you see more clearly the world around you and all that you are called to do?

Paul has a bit of an eye exam himself in our reading this week from Acts.  We know this story as the “conversion of Saul” as he encounters Jesus on his way to Damascus.  But this story is more about Saul’s calling – to be, as Jesus says: “an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel.” (Acts 9:15) In other words: Saul is called to bring a vision of Jesus’s Kingdom to all people.

But before Saul can do this, he will need to have his “vision” examined – his vision for his faith and his life’s mission; his vision of who Christ is and what He means to Saul’s life and that of the world.  In doing so, Saul will learn to let go of all he saw for himself.  He will need to embrace change and learn to walk fully in the Way of Jesus.     

Jesus won’t make Saul go it alone, though.  He first calls Ananias to walk with him - much to Ananias’ chagrin!  But it seems that Ananias needs his eyes checked as well.  But with faith and courage, Ananias will come to see that Jesus’s purposes can be seen – even in the likes of Saul.

Questions: How does our faith in Jesus call us to see ourselves differently?  How does it help us to embrace needed change in ourselves and in how we may see others?  How might we – with faith and courage – set out to be instruments chosen to bring a vision of His Kingdom of justice and peace to those around us?       

Think about it.  Read the scriptures and pray about it.