St. Matthew Catholic Church

Weekly Message     

           Blindness: Spiritual Vs Physical

Dear brothers and sisters,   

      In 2020, the world’s blind population was estimated to be 40 to 45 million, with another 135 million having low vision. Vision loss is predicted to surge 55% by 2050 (source: Statista). The causes of this are innumerable; some are curable, and others are treatable; the rest, God alone knows.

     In the Bible, blindness often represents spiritual ignorance or separation from God. A spiritually blind person usually does not know they are spiritually blind. The cause of it is sin, pride, unbelief, etc. Spiritual blindness is a “choice.” ‘People’s heart has become calloused; … they have closed their eyes.’ (Mt. 13:10-17)

     Moral blindness is to call evil good and good evil. (Is. 5:20) Becoming numb to the difference between right and wrong; failing to follow the commandments of God. It needs a conversion of heart.

      Sunday, a man was driving through a mining region when he noticed many mules in an open field. When he inquired about this unusual sight, he was told that the work animals had been brought up from the dark passages below to preserve their eyesight. Unless they were regularly exposed to sunlight, they would eventually go blind. We Christians need similar experiences to keep us from losing our spiritual vision.

     Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, was dirty, lonely on the road, locked him out, the world of darkness. He was physically blind but not spiritually – he sees who Jesus truly is, unlike others who have sight but are spiritually blind. In persistent and faith-filled prayer, he cried louder when the crowd discouraged him. His prayer ‘stopped’ Jesus. He stopped for one blind beggar. His request is bold, simple and direct: “Jesus, I want to see.”

     Please come out of your darkness, spiritual blindness, and ask Jesus to open your eyes. He will ’stop and wait’ for you and invite you!

  Blessings!

Msgr. Xavier                                        

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