The eyes of faith

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary remind us that we put a great deal of faith in the cliche that seeing is believing. The Prophet Isaiah paints images of the way in which God’s plan for the Israelites will change what they see in the world around them. Daniel Patrick O'Reilly recounts his experience with a threat to his sight through which he reflects on the nature of faith through the difficulties of life. The Gospel from Matthew highlights Jesus action of giving sight to the blind as both a healing event of Divine mercy and a spiritual invitation which Archbishop Cyril Salim Bustros understands as part of the synergy of our lives in Christ wherein we shy from seeing Him face to face. Don Schwager sees the deep meaning of knowing God to be mercy. The vision of the plan and action of God is clearer to the humble, courageous, childlike and just mentioned by the psalmist as those who see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. We approach Jesus blind and ask for the gift of faith to improve our vision.