BEING blind is absolutely a terrible fate that one can have. Imagine one’s self not being able to see the world – its life and colors. Imagine not being able to see the faces of loved ones especially those of one’s children or one’s spouse. Imagine not being able to see one’s features – one’s size, beauty, stature, and yes, even one’s imperfections. Perhaps one would not be able to experience this tragic fate until he or she finds himself or herself gradually losing his or her eyesight through other illness, old age, or accident.
There is however another type of blindness that is even more tragic: it is the inability to see one’s goodness, one’s beauty, and one’s virtues. It is also the inability to see the works of God in one’s life and in the world. In this type of blindness, one is trapped in a world of depression, darkness, and hopelessness – he or she is paralyzed to do anything worthwhile, life-giving, and fulfilling. His or her consciousness is solely focused on unhealthy, self-absorbing and selfish desires.
What causes this spiritual blindness? Definitely it is sin. When we say “sin”, we refer to any concrete activity that breaks any of the Ten Commandment. We refer to any immoral act that inflicts guilt, restlessness, and conflicts into our lives, and causes us to be in the state of disgrace, to be away from God. In this state, one struggles to experience inner harmony and peace with God and neighbors.
We all need healing from this type of blindness. In this season of Lent, the Church makes us deeply aware of the need to be rescued from this miserable disease. That’s why we say that Lent should be a special and an intense period of conversion, a profound experience of healing grace.
The Gospels of Lent provide us with stories and images of healing grace. The story of a man in this Sunday’s Gospel who was blind since birth and who was healed by Jesus at Pool of Siloam is an example. Yet, Jesus asks us to read or to listen to this Gospel with eyes of faith. We must delve into its layers of meaning that go beyond any literal or historical interpretation. In the end, this Gospel, and like the other Gospels of Lent, should touch a deep part of our heart and move us towards a life of Grace, an experience of intense healing and peace.
If we feel that we have not yet entered into this season of Grace, it is not too late yet. As long as we continually seek God and become aware of our need for salvation, God’s heart is always open. That’s why the season of Lent is not a celebration unto itself; it is a preparation for much greater event, a season of hope and new life: Easter!
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Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas attended St. John Seminary in Camarillo, California and earned his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. For twenty years, he has been in the parish ministry of large multi-cultural communities. Since 2002, he has been the pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles. Please email Fr. Rodel at [email protected].