Tag Archives: blindness

HEALING OUR BLINDNESS

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Friday 4th December – Friday of the 1st week of Advent

Reflection: Matthew 9: 27-31

HEALING OUR BLINDNESS

One of the recurring marks of the messiah’s presence foretold by the prophets is restoration of sight to the blind. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened…” (Is 35:5); “I will lead the blind in a way they know not…I will turn the darkness before them into light” (Is 42:16) and in today’s first reading, “in that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.” (Is 29:18).

Yet, this restoration was not limited to those who were physically blind. The more important restoration is for all of us, blinded by sin and groping in the darkness of a godless world. The blind men in today’s gospel reading had heard about Christ and recognised that He was the only solution to their helpless state hence, once they knew He was close by, they continued to follow Him, seeking an encounter that they were certain would transform their lives – and they were not disappointed.

Beloved, do you recognise your spiritual blindness and your need for Christ? Through baptism which is also called “enlightenment”, the person baptised has been “enlightened” by Christ, the true light and becomes “light” himself (cf CCC 1216). Christ has begun the work of restoring our sight through our baptism. Yet, it is only in staying close to Him that we can prevent ourselves from being blinded again by sin. It is in being true disciples that we can prevent our intellect from being darkened and our will to do good from being weakened by the opposing standards of this world. Like the blind men did, it is only in witnessing to His saving power through a lively faith that we can clearly see the eternal hope which our Christian call holds for us. Let us ask our Lord to restore our sight so that we may ever live true to our call.

PRAYER: Thank you dear Lord for the gift of faith. Please rescue me from the blindness of sin and help me to truly live as a son of light. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 1216 – “This bath (Baptism) is called enlightenment, because those who receive this [catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding…” Having received in Baptism the Word, “the true light that enlightens every man,” the person baptised has been “enlightened,” he becomes a “son of light,” indeed, he becomes “light” himself.

HIDE A TREASURE: “I ask that your minds be opened to see his light, so that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people.” Ephesians 1:18 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Isaiah 29: 17-24; Psalm 27: 1,4, 13-14; Matthew 9: 27-31

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DO YOU RECOGNISE HIM?

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Wednesday 8th April – Wednesday of the Octave of Easter

Reflection: Luke 24:13-35

DO YOU RECOGNISE HIM?

Blindness, according to the dictionary, is a state of not being able to see. It is an impediment in vision which may be total or partial. Though we often think of blindness only in the physical sense, there is a spiritual dimension to it. Spiritual blindness occurs when an individual cannot discern spiritual truths. He does not understand the things that are eternal. Hence, while physical blindness may be cured by medicine, spiritual blindness can be cured only by God through the Holy Spirit.

In today’s gospel reading, the disciples were unable to identify Jesus because something prevented them (Luke 24:16). What prevents you from recognizing Jesus?  Is it sin, doubt, pride or ignorance? Is it prestige, wealth, or other attractions and distractions of life? The disciples were blindfolded with doubt and hopelessness. Even while He taught them on the way, they still did not recognize him until at the breaking of bread. How often do we frequent the sacrifice of the Mass and partake of the Holy Eucharist? Do we recognize Jesus in this precious gift?

Beloved, our blindness can be cured by God if we realize that we are blind and allow Him to heal us. The disciples reported that their “hearts burned within them as Christ explained the scriptures to them”. Their recognition of Jesus was already underway but reached its fullness as He broke the bread. Let us imbibe the habit of studying the Scripture and embrace the frequent attendance at Mass that we may recognize our Lord in the breaking of the bread. As we do this we will recognize him in the poor and in our brethren too.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I thank you for your special interest in me. Please remove all blindness in me so that I may recognize you and love you more. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 1343 – It was above all on “the first day of the week,” Sunday, the day of Jesus’ resurrection that the Christians met “to break bread.” From that time on down to our own day the celebration of the Eucharist has been continued so that today we encounter it everywhere in the Church with the same fundamental structure. It remains the centre of the Church’s life.

HIDE A TREASURE: “My dear friend, I pray that everything may go well with you and that you may be in good health as I know you are well in spirit” 3 John 1:2 GNB

Today’s reading: Acts 3:1-10; Psalm 105:1-9; Luke 24:13-35

EYES THAT SEE

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Sunday 8th March – 3rd Sunday of Lent

Reflection: Psalm 19:8-11

EYES THAT SEE

“Three Blind Mice” was the title of a popular song we sang as children. As we sang it we could picture the mice as they walked aimlessly in our young minds. Blindness is indeed a terrible thing. What if I suggest that you play a little trick on yourself by choosing to shut your eyes for a whole day without opening them even when moving about within your house? “That sounds very weird!” you would say. So is the predicament of being blind. God has given us eyes for a purpose – for seeing.

This principle applies even more to the spiritual life. We are given spiritual eyes to see but unfortunately many of us do not see. The major reason why many young people live in disobedience is because they are spiritually blind. Every time we walk in disobedience, many things go wrong in the spirit realm, God is not happy and so are His angels. The devil and his demons are happy and sometimes one’s destiny is even thwarted.

To recover our spiritual sight beloved, we must consider the ancient antidote which the Psalmist gives to us today, and this is the “Living Word of God” (Ps 19:8). This is the cure to spiritual blindness. We must go beyond just reading and memorizing Scripture. We must take time to meditate on it each day, for as we do, God opens our spiritual eyes and we see life much more clearly. When you meditate on God’s Word day and night, it not only causes you to see, but also to succeed in all that you do (Josh 1:8).

PRAYER: Thank you Jesus for Your Word is a light to my path. Please help me to seek direction in your word each day. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 748: “The Church has no other light than Christ’s; according to a favourite image of the Church Fathers, the Church is like the moon, all its light reflected from the sun.”

HIDE A TREASURE: “The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” Psalm 19: 8 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Exodus 20:1-17; Ps 19:8-11; 1Cor 1:22-25; John 2:13-25