Every day of Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
Jesus had been walking through the city when He encountered a man who had been blind from birth. Moved with compassion, Jesus restored his sight.
Most of us have eyes that can see the physical world. But sometimes our inner vision — the vision that comes from faith — grows dim. We can become blind to God.
The man in today’s Gospel becomes a symbol for all who suffer from a kind of spiritual blindness. Some openly say they cannot see God — atheists and agnostics who claim He is nowhere to be found. But for most of us, it is subtler than that. Our vision is not completely gone; it is simply cloudy. Like cataracts that slowly form over time, our faith can become obscured without us even noticing.
Spiritual blindness rarely happens overnight. Cataracts develop gradually. At first, everything looks normal. Then, little by little, our sight weakens. Young children often seem to see God so clearly and so naturally. But as life unfolds — with its disappointments, anxieties, and uncertainties — our trust can erode. When we rely too heavily on human intelligence or place too much hope in human ingenuity, our vision of God can begin to fade.
We cannot allow that to happen. We need an eye doctor for the soul. And Jesus is that physician. He heals. He restores vision. He allows us to see Him — and in seeing Him, to see the loving face of the Father.
Jesus told the man born blind to “go wash in the pool of Siloam.” He obeyed, and he returned able to see.
We, too, have been washed — in the waters of Baptism. The very life of God dwells within us. What we need is the insight to recognize His presence. We can ask Jesus to remove whatever clouds our spiritual vision — doubt, fear, distraction, pride. We can ask Him to open the eyes of our hearts so that we may see His love, His compassion, His healing, and His saving grace.
Jesus, help me to see you more clearly today.
Have a blessed week everyone.