Saint Nicholas, Bishop (Optional Memorial)

Two blind men followed him. 

Do you see what I see?   According to a popular song, that’s what the wind asks a little lamb on the night Jesus is born.   The wind sees a star dancing in the night sky, celebrating the miracle of Bethlehem.   It’s a scene of excitement and wonder, a heavenly vision that sees something more than just another star.

You can almost imagine the blind men in today’s Gospel reading (Matthew 9:27) saying something similar.   Do you see what we are seeing?   Of course, they would have known that everyone around them was able to see the beauty of creation.   But imagine these men speaking about a heavenly vision.   Imagine them asking,  Do you see the Messiah?   The One who proclaims God’s mercy and who brings healing everywhere he goes?   Can you see with the eyes of your heart?

It’s easy to see with an earthly vision—our family, neighbors, and coworkers, even our obligations and challenges.   But Christmas is about God helping us to see things that our “earthly eyes” could never perceive.   It shows us a baby who is God, a pregnant woman who is a sinless virgin, and a star that is a sign of salvation.   It helps us see ourselves and the people around us in a new way too:   as beloved children whom Jesus considers worth dying for and as temples of his own Holy Spirit.

How can we sharpen our spiritual vision?   By imitating these two blind men.   When they heard about Jesus, they believed that he could heal them.   So they followed after Jesus, crying out until he stopped and turned to them.   Then, when he asked whether they believed he could heal them, they confidently said yes.   And with that, their eyes were opened.

We can follow after Jesus with the same kind of faith and persist in asking him to open our eyes.   It’s not a complicated matter, either.   We can make sure we are spending time every day in prayer and Scripture reading.   We can be vigilant in repenting for any sins that cloud our consciences.   And we can try our best to treat the people around us with the love and respect they deserve.   This simple formula will open our eyes—and it will move us to ask others, “Do you see what I see?”

“Lord, open the eyes of my heart.   I want to see you!”

Isaiah 29:17-24
Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14

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