In this Sunday’s first reading (1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a), we are told, “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart." In this world, we are trained to look at the externals and the peripherals – the person’s beauty, possessions, degrees, power, awards, and even visible acts of what seems to be goodness. Today, the words of the Lord remind us to look beyond the surface – to focus on man’s inner core as represented by his heart. There is more to a person’s physical beauty, his wealth, education, connections, commendations, and good works on display. His essence is in what he is before God without any filters or pretentions – his thoughts, feelings, motivations, and pure acts. This is what the all-knowing God sees when he looks at us; his gaze penetrates to our innermost being. Let us therefore approach him with a humble and truthful heart, not as hypocrites but as children always in need of his forgiveness, healing, and provisions.
We cannot hide anything from the God who sees everything, including our faults and imperfections. The second reading (Eph 5:8-14) challenges us to take no part in these fruitless works of darkness but to expose in God’s light the shameful things done in secret. As we do so, let us trust in his mercy, for he truly loves us and cares for us. As the psalmist sings, “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want” (Ps 23:1).
In the gospel (Jn 9:1-41), we see the reversal of conditions. The beggar who was born blind begins to see while the Pharisees who were born with good eyesight failed to see clearly. Jesus healed the blind beggar and with his healing, he believed his healer as the Savior and Lord. The Pharisees, on the other hand, saw the miracle but they refused to believe it, more so to believe in the one who performed the miracle. Figuratively, they had eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear.
This Sunday, let us pray that we be like the humble, truthful, and faithful beggar whom Jesus cured, not the proud, deceitful, and self-righteous Pharisees. May God heal us of our spiritual blindness that we may behold his beautiful face and worship him with praise and thanksgiving springing from our hearts.