4th Sunday of Lent year A

Dearly Beloved, 

Sight is one of God's given senses, a gift to observe and discover certain exterior things.  For instance how blessed we are to see the beauty that surrounds us here on this Island.  Although sight is a gift, it can have its limitations and be obscured by distance.  Furthermore, it can be limited to the things of sacred mysteries, pertaining to the Eucharist.  For what we see by sight tells us that the elements of the Eucharist remains the same after consecration.  So the need to rely upon other God given senses is necessary, such as the hearing sense.  Because didn't Christ say: This is my body, and This is the Chalice of my blood.

The limitations of sight is evidence in the story of the blind man, because people interpreted that his blindness is the result of his sin or the sin of his parents.  But when Christ restores sight to the blind man, it is so that all eyes could be opened to see that standing before them is the Beloved Son of God, the Word Incarnate.  

Wisdom is acquired not just through observations of exterior things, but to see that which cannot be seen by sight, and to humbly accept those limitations.  I can see certain things that I cannot see within myself, and with that comes freedom, freedom to enter into the spiritual realm and peek into the great spiritual mysteries of God.

When sight is limited, it is not a complete curse, as in the case of the famous blind Piano player who could still play using other senses especially touch and hearing.

I remember Fr Robert Spitzer who gave the retreat for Priest Days last year and shared about his frustrations with his own blindness.  On the verge of losing his sight, he implored God saying: "I could so much more, if only you restore my sight."  But would it be a guarantee that he would do much more if his sight was restored, or would it have led him down a different path of God's plan.  Furthermore, being legally blind, it didn't stop him from doing so much for Gonzaga University, authoring many books, traveling and giving presentations throughout the nation.  The irony is that here is a man that could not see as well as many of us, but he could perhaps see so much more than the majority.  And he shared many of the spiritual insights, sharing what he does see for the rest of us. 

If sight is limited, how often we rely upon others to help us improve our vision.  If this is the case, how much more do we rely upon the Son of God, who is from above, that has seen heaven and tells us about heaven using parables.   And he shares how we must live out the rest of our days as disciples.  "I was blind but now I see."  I see now why I must always rely upon the eyes of Jesus, because he can see so much more, he can help me be at peace.  He is the Good Shepherd that can see the verdant pastures and lead me there.  Blessings.