Spirituality of the Readings
The Simple Eye
Who sinned, that
this man was born blind? …
“It is so that the works of God
might be made visible through him.” (Jn 9:8)
Most spiritualities say something like the following, and Ignatian Spirituality is no different: see more deeply. Feel more deeply. Pay attention to the quiet movements inside yourself and you will know more about what is outside you. Deepen yourself and you will learn to see.
Sometimes we are told "quit spending time on yourself and go get some work done" or "go help someone.” But you can’t see very well through a window if it is dirty, or if you have furniture piled up in front of it. In Lent we do housekeeping so that we can see clearly, without our usual prejudices pulled in front of the windows of our soul.
Take the Pharisees in the Gospel. They could not see clearly. When they asked the blind man how his sight had been restored, the man replied simply, “He put mud on my eyes, I washed it off, and now I can see.” WHAT? screamed the Pharisees. THAT MAN “CANNOT BE FROM GOD BECAUSE HE DOES NOT KEEP THE SABBATH.” He is therefore a sinner! He could not have cured you. (With these words, one high piece of furniture is shoved in front of the window).
These Pharisees run and get the man’s parents, who will surely know what really happened. But the parents say an arch reply: “he is a grown man, he can speak for himself.”
Back to the blind man. He explains, “It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man [Jesus] were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.”(Piece of furniture number two will now rumble in front of the window of their eyes, as follows: WHAT? YOU ARE LECTURING US ABOUT MEN OF GOD AND YOU ARE STEEPED IN SIN FROM YOUR VERY BIRTH? GET OUT OF HERE!
The man born blind sees well. The Pharisees are the ones who refuse to see. If they were physically blind this would be understandable. But the truth is hidden by their own need to control others, their love of being in charge. What if they had looked the man through eyes unclouded by sin? They could have beheld a miracle, with wonder and awe.
Much later in time, Ignatius called this way of seeing "the simple eye." It is what we are trying to move toward during Lent.
To have the simple eye is see with the eyes of faith. It is to let the Holy Spirit have a peaceful home within us and to help us clean house. Jesus gives the man this deeper sight. He says "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" The blind man says yes. He is simply no longer blind.
The same question faces each of us as we get ready for Holy Week. “Do you believe in the Son of Man” (the name Jesus used for himself)? Can you live in the light of the Lord (2nd reading)? Can you let the Lord be your Shepherd (Responsorial Psalm)? You can if you let go of your own prejudices and opinions, hard as that may be.
Let's ask Jesus to give us the simple eye.
John Foley, SJ
**From Saint Louis University