A sentence that pops out for me in the readings for this week is: "... for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look at outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (Sam 16: 7) Much of our Lenten discipline is designed to purify our spiritual vision which has been blurred by self-indulgence and mini idolatries. The way to deal with such things is not to conceal them from ourselves. Rather, as St Paul tells us: "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." (Eph 5: 11) Let us not be found in the company of the Pharisees who in the gospel reading ask: "Surely we are not blind, are we?" (Jn 9: 40) It is by opening our hearts to God that we can be guided by the Holy Spirit to a clarity of vision regarding our deficiencies and our need for the teaching and healing Jesus offers us. That is why coming to the sacrament of reconciliation during Lent is a valuable way of reorienting ourselves towards God's purposes and actualizing our redemption. Acknowledging our blindness is the first step towards regaining full vision. Jesus tells the Pharisees: " 'If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains'. " (Jn 9: 41)
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