1 SM 16:1B, 6-7, 10-13A; PS
23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6; EPH 5:8-14; JN 9:1-41
 Our readings
today identify the most unlikely individuals for the most extraordinary
tasks. These individuals are examples to us in our everyday lives.
In our First Reading, the Lord appoints Samuel to declare the next king
of Israel within the family of Jesse of Bethlehem. To an extent, Samuel
had his own vision as to who should be the next king. Yet, the Lord said
to Samuel, “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature...
Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance, but the
Lord looks into the heart.” Jesse then shares that there is one more son
that was out tending the sheep — the youngest, David. When David came to
Samuel, the Lord proclaimed, “There — anoint him, for this is the one!”
The Lord’s words to Samuel cut right to the heart of what matters in
God’s eyes, “man sees the appearance, but the Lord looks into the heart.”
We often embrace the misconception that status and appearance are what carry
great importance in life. Yet, God clearly states that it is what is in
our hearts that matters most. And He sees each one of our hearts. So how
do we cultivate hearts worthy of God? It starts in prayer. Through this
time set aside for our Lord, He will work on our hearts so that they will
become more like His most Sacred Heart. Let us pray that our hearts might
become transformed so that when we meet Christ face to face, He says,
“There — anoint him, this is the one!”
Today's Gospel resounds what was proclaimed in our First Reading, “not as
man sees does God see.” Jesus heals a man blind from birth, and the
disciples asked Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that
he was born blind?” Jesus answers, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it
is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.” Then
Jesus heals the man.
Jesus often worked through the most vulnerable people in need to show His
greatest works when He was on earth. People thought this man was made
blind as a punishment from God — yet, God chose him to become a witness
to Christ’s light in the world. His weakness led him to depend on the
healing power of Christ. We must also recognize our need for healing and
give God the authority to work through us. With that, we will become an
instrument of God in the world.
The Gospel continues with various people questioning how the blind man
had his sight restored. They wondered from where the Man Who had healed
him came. He responds so beautifully, “This is what is so amazing, that
you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes... If this man
were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.”
How can we not believe in the good works of our God after hearing this
testimony? We should be attentive to His good works because He pours them
out on us each day. We simply must look through a lens of gratitude to
see them.
During these final weeks of Lent, let us ponder God’s words, “not as man
sees does God see.” May we become vulnerable and dependent on our Lord so
that He might work through us and transform us; may we say a profound
“yes” to that which He is calling us.
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