Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year A-2023

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Open the Eyes of Those Who Cannot See

Jesus is the light of the world. That is why to open the eyes of the blind is part of the task that his Father has entrusted to him.

Jesus decides on his own to open the eyes of a man blind from birth. The latter gets to see so clearly that he recognizes him to be a prophet. He later believes in him as the Son of Man. Never mind that he knows not of what the Pharisees claim they know for sure. It is enough for him that he passes the Teacher’s scrutiny.

And as he does open the eyes of the blind, Jesus also means to open also our eyes. For he suggests that we should see much more than just blindness or what we think is its cause. We are not to let our wish to know who is to blame hinder us from seeing what is there.

Nor should we fail to notice God’s works due to preconceived ideas we have in store. After all, who knows really but God, for instance, who is just and who is a sinner?

And we have to open our eyes to the grace that even sin and physical evils may occasion. For do we not say time and again that every cloud has a silver lining? And does not grace increase all the more where sin increases?

Open to Jesus

Yes, Jesus, who sees as God, wants us who say we follow him to “see with his eyes, to feel with his sensibilities, to judge with his values.” This means, among other things, that we should not be so very sure of ourselves. Of the ideas we hold dear, of the ways we think and speak, especially of God and his ways. Of how we see and treat those who suffer, given that, like Job, we do not know as God does. By being so very sure we run the risk of excluding others, while our Teacher wants all to be one.

No, we cannot claim to know it all. We are not to say we see, or we end up remaining in sin. It is better for us to admit that we are weak, poor, blind. And to ask Jesus in prayer, “What would you do if you were in my place” (SV.EN XI:314). Better for us, too, to let him scrutinize us. For he will surely help us so that may eat and drink from the table of his word and of his body and blood.

Lord Jesus, let us open our whole being to you, so that we may be like you in the way we see, feel and judge.


19 March 2023

Fourth Sunday of Lent (A)

1 Sam 16, 1b. 6-7. 10-13a; Eph 5, 8-14; Jn 9, 1-41


VERSIÓN ESPAÑOLA

Abrir los ojos a los que no pueden ver

Jesús es la luz del mundo. Por lo tanto, abrir los ojos a los ciegos forma parte de la tarea que le ha confiado su Padre.

Toma Jesús la iniciativa de abrir los ojos al que nació ciego. Y éste logra ver tan claro que reconoce por profeta al que lo ha curado. Luego cree en él como el Hijo del hombre. No importa que no sepa nada de lo que los fariseos dicen que se lo saben con certeza. Le basta con pasar el escrutinio que le ha dado el Maestro.

Y al abrir éste los ojos al ciego, no nos deja de abrir también los ojos a nosotros. Es que nos indica que hemos de ver mucho más que la mera ceguera o la supuesta causa de ella. No se nos permite que, por desear saber quiénes tienen la culpa, no veamos lo que hay.

Ni hemos de dejar de notar las obras de Dios debido a unas ideas preconcebidas que atesoramos. Después de todo, por ejemplo, ¿quién sabe realmente, sino solo Dios, quién es justo y quién es pecador?

También tenemos que abrir los ojos a la gracia que puedan ocasionar aun el pecado y los males físicos. Pues, ¿no es cierto que no hay mal que por bien no venga? Y, ¿ no abunda tanto más la gracia cuanto más se multiplica el pecado?

Abrir todo lo que somos a Jesús

Sí, Jesús, el que mira como Dios, quiere que los que nos decimos discípulos veamos con sus ojos, sintamos con su sensibilidad, juzguemos con sus valores. Quiere decir esto que, entre otras cosas, no hemos de estar demasiado seguros de nosotros mismos. De las ideas que valoramos, de las formas de pensar y hablar, en particular, de Dios y sus planes. De cómo miramos y tratamos a los que sufren, dado que, al igual que Job, no conocemos como Dios. Estar demasiado seguros quiere decir correr el riesgo de excluir a los demás, mientras nuestro Maestro quiere que seamos uno todos.

No, no hemos de afirmar que todo nos lo sabemos. Que no digamos que vemos, para que así no persista nuestro pecado. Mejor que nos admitamos débiles, pobres, ciegos. Y que oremos a Jesús diciéndole: «¿Qué harías si estuvieras en mi lugar?» (SV.ES XI:240). Y mejor también que le dejemos escrutarnos. Pues no hay duda de que él nos ayudará y hará que comamos y bebamos de la mesa de su palabra, y de su cuerpo y sangre.

Señor Jesús, concédenos abrir a ti todo nuestro ser para que seamos al igual que tú en nuestro modo de ver, sentir y juzgar.


19 Marzo 2023

4º Domingo de Cuaresma (A)

1 Sam 16, 1b. 6-7. 10-13a; Ef 5, 8-14; Jn 9, 1-41