To see what?
The heart of each one,
The ways of the Holy One,
And the presence of the Son---
Blindness healed
Darkness dispelled.
 
Blindness is a state of isolation. One who is blind is left to himself, seeing nothing but darkness. That solitary state may arrest the person in fear and despair.
 
During this time of the worldwide health crisis, we are enveloped in darkness and we are moved to isolate ourselves from one another. In this state, we are to confront ourselves with the blindness that hinder us to see the Light of Christ and we are invited to take that healing journey with hope.
 
Such act of confronting ourselves and taking the courage to be healed demands that we have to open our hearts to behold the heart of each one. With the luxury of time at the moment, we have to re-evaluate the many things around us and the priorities that preoccupy our busy life. Opening our hearts would examine our innermost being.  As Samuel was reminded  that the Lord looks into the heart, we have to look into our heart and check not only our wickedness but also the original goodness implanted deep within us. There is so much goodness in us for God has blessed us with every good gift. 
 
As we open our hearts, we shall be able to see the heart in the person we encounter. Jesus did not judge the man born blind as a sinner but He has seen in the blind man a person of value. More than the sin that has been attached to the blind man’s state, Jesus has accorded him with dignity. We have to see goodness and possibilities too in others--“bawal ang judgmental.”
 
The healing journey from blindness to sight also demands that we have to discover God’s dynamic actions in our lives. Jesus’ act of making a clay with his saliva may be very unlikely. We may be overwhelmed with seemingly “dirty” realities of life. Mud, clay, dirt. We can be irked by the trash of life. But God may be working silently in those unlikely moments. God is there in the pains and sorrows of life. God is there in the midst of the poor and the marginalized. God is there even when darkness grips us in fear. God is there doing something for us.
 
Indeed, the Son is with us--the Emmanuel. We have to acknowledge Him as our Lord and Savior. When doubt and despair haunt us not to believe, we have to see God present where LOVE is. God embraces us even when we cannot seem to feel His comfort. When we ask God these days, “where are you?”, He may not answer us but He may continue to be quiet but present---in the many medical frontliners serving the sick; in the many people sharing whatever they have for the homeless, jobless, and the hungry during this time of quarantine; in the whispering hearts united in prayer for the world’s healing. God is never absent but always present. 
 
As we  continue to take the Lenten journey, we have to take the invitation of opening our eyes to see our heart and the hearts of other people, the movement of God, and the presence of God. We are blind for many reasons but we hope that we shall see. Amen.