Lent: a time to open our eyes

Sunday, March 19, 2023

READINGS: 1 SM 16:1B, 6-7, 10-13A; PS 23:1-6; EPH 5:8-14; JN 9:1-41 

The readings on the fourth Sunday of Lent are filled with contrasting images — God’s vision versus human vision, the light of Christ versus the darkness of sin, spiritual blindness versus spiritual sightedness. Embracing a faith filled life as Catholic Christians can free us from spiritual blindness, allow us to see as God sees, and help us to reflect the light of Christ’s love in the way we live our daily lives.

Our Second Reading, from Ephesians, begins, “… You were once in darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” Because of our Baptism, we have the “light” of the Blessed Trinity dwelling within us. In the difficulties and messiness of daily life, it’s easy to forget this glorious truth about ourselves. It can also be difficult to determine whether we truly are living in a way that reflects Christ’s light.

A faith filled Catholic life, with its emphasis on the rightly ordered use of the gifts of time, talent, and material resources, can give us a guide to consult daily to help ensure that we really are living as “children of the light.”

In our Gospel passage from Saint John, Christ restores sight to a man born blind. The man born blind said that Jesus “opened my eyes.” These Lenten days are an excellent time for us to ask him to open our eyes, too. Let us ask Jesus to show us where we may be suffering from spiritual blindness, perhaps even in subtle ways in our use — or misuse — of time, talent, and material resources.

As we continue along our Lenten journey, let’s intensify our efforts in any of these areas where we have become a little blinded so that by Easter Sunday, we are already living as children of the light.