4th Sunday of Lent
You were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Seeing is believing! Or is it? We live in an age of doorbells, traffic, cell phones, body cameras, video recordings, and many other ways of capturing what was said, what happened, and the responses. It would seem very simple to use seeing is believing as the defining principle of truth. And yet, disagreement continues, divisions widen, and we find ourselves at odds with one another.
We seem to have so many blind spots. We may feel we are walking in a dark valley. How often do our preconceived ideas and cultural conditioning prevent us from embracing the truth? Instead of seeing the poor struggling to live a decent life, we see them as lazy or incompetent. Instead of seeing immigrants being treated inhumanely as our brothers and sisters, we see them as illegals getting what they deserve. Instead of seeing young people struggling to find their place in our world, we see them as out of control. And the list goes on. Seeing is believing, but from a narrow perspective.
The story of the man born blind presents us with how blind spots prevent the embrace of the miracle of sight being restored. The Pharisees were unable to see beyond the miracle happening on the Sabbath. The parents were afraid of what would happen if they received this miracle with joy and wonder. The townspeople were unable to accept Jesus as from God. The only one accepting the miracle was the man born blind.
At our Baptism, we were chosen, anointed by God, and immersed in a community that walks in the light of Christ. At each Eucharist, we are challenged to open our eyes and widen our vision, embracing our mission. Believing is seeing!
What blind spots in my life need the Lord’s healing touch?
Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for calling and gifting us with the light of Christ through our Baptism. We ask that you send the Spirit, enabling us to see the world with your eyes, that we may forgive and accept others with the same love with which you forgive and love us. Amen.
