A Different Kind of Seeing

First, there is the seer (a “see-er”) who doesn’t see. Samuel, God’s prophet,  was sent to anoint a replacement for King Saul. When his eyes fell on the oldest son of Jesse, Samuel thought he was seeing the next king of Israel. Eliab had some of the same qualities as Saul: tall, striking in appearance. But God was looking at the heart and the divine gaze turned elsewhere—indeed, outside the room,  to where the youngest of Jesse’s sons was tending sheep. (Ever since Abel, God seemed to be partial to shepherds!) 

In the Gospel, the man born blind is the only one who does see clearly, or rather, who comes to see clearly. As with most of us, he comes to a 20/20 spiritual vision gradually. When they first ask him who healed him, he replies forthrightly,  “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes.” And when they say  Jesus can’t be from God and heal on the Sabbath, the cured man asks how Jesus could be a sinner and do what he did; then he calls Jesus a prophet. Later, he  says, “If he were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.” And, finally,  on meeting up with Jesus again, he acknowledges him as Son of Man and as Lord. 

On the other side were all these seeing people who do not see Jesus for who he was. To really see Jesus, you need faith. This gift will be generously given—in  God’s time—to those who seek it. 

Consider/Discuss

• How do you see Jesus? 
• Are there people who do not see who Jesus is? Have you asked God to given them the sight of faith? 

Responding to the Word

Lord Jesus, you are the light that lifts the blindness from the eyes of our heart,  mind, and spirit. To see you is to come to faith in you as Lord and Savior. Give this gift of sight to those who do not have it. Grant, Lord, that they may see.