Scripture:
Reflection:
In last Sunday’s gospel we read about Jesus curing the man who was physically blind. Today we read about Jesus confronting people who were spiritually blind. They were apparently caught up in arrogance, pride, fear of change and fear of losing power, and thus they were unable to see “the one he (the Father) has sent.”
Actually, there are many kinds of blindness. We can be so busy about our everyday tasks or be so absorbed in our electronic gadgets that we fail to see how good is the physical creation all around us. “God saw everything that he had made and behold it was very good (Genesis 1:31).”
We can be so blinded by anger, prejudice and unforgiveness that we fail to see how sacred are the people in front of us. “Next to the Blessed Sacrament, your neighbor is the most sacred object present to your senses.” (C. S. Lewis)
We can be so caught up in self-doubt and self-pity that we fail to see how beautiful is the person in the mirror. For God is beautiful and, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27).”
If we cannot see the goodness of creation, the sacredness of other people, and the beauty of ourselves, chances are we will be blinded to the presence of our God, who is all good, all sacred and all beautiful.
Lent is the time to fast from busyness, to fast from anger, prejudice and unforgiveness, to fast from self-doubt and self-pity. Then the eyes of our minds and the eyes of our hearts will be able to see God right here and now in our midst.
Fr. Alan Phillip, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Community at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California. http://www.alanphillipcp.com/