We see in the Scriptures numerous stories of sight being restored. Bartimaeus and Saul come to mind immediately. Today in our first reading, we see another blind man getting his sight back. It is Tobit. In the Gospel from Mark 12, Jesus asks how the Christ could be the son of David. After all, David himself calls him “lord.”
Raphael the Archangel gives Tobit’s son, Tobiah, the means of curing his father’s blindness. He smeared fish gall on his eyes and when he peeled it off, Tobit’s sight was restored. Immediately, Tobit begins praising God with full voice. I’m sure it had been a long four years for him, and we saw how this affliction had affected Tobit. Having his son, Tobiah, be the first person he saw must have been especially cool.
Every time I read one of the stories of sight being restored, I can’t help but think of the song Amazing Grace. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. Our vision can get so cloudy sometimes, can’t it? I believe that our blindness is in direct proportion to our self-centeredness. The more self-centered we are, the less we are able to see or relate to others. If we pray that God will take away our selfishness, I’m confident that God will open our eyes today.
Father, you know that we can become so blinded through our own selfishness. Open our eyes that we might see the plight of others, and offer your love and grace to them. Amen.
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