“Seeing with the Heart”
Dear People of God,
The Word of God for 4th Sunday of Lent reminds us that God sees very differently than we do.
In the First Reading from the First Book of Samuel (1 Samuel 16:6-7, 10-13a), the prophet Samuel is sent to choose the next king of Israel. At first, he looks at the older and stronger brothers, thinking surely one of them must be God’s choice. But God tells him, “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.” God chooses the youngest son, David, a simple shepherd boy.
In the Gospel from the Gospel of John (John 9:1-41), Jesus heals a man who was born blind. After washing, the man is able to see. But something deeper happens. He begins to recognize who Jesus truly is. On the other side, the religious leaders who believe they can see refuse to believe. Their hearts remain closed.
The message is simple: we can have good eyesight and still miss to see what God is doing.
And the Letter to the Ephesians (5:8-14) encourages us to live as “children of light.”
As we continue through Lent, it is a good time to ask God to open our eyes—to see His presence in our daily lives, our families, and even in difficult moments.
This coming week, on March 19, we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph. Joseph is a beautiful example of someone who truly saw with the eyes of faith. He didn’t seek attention or recognition. Instead, he quietly trusted God and followed His guidance—even when the path was unclear. Joseph listened, obeyed, and cared faithfully for Jesus Christ and Mary.
Like David, Joseph might not have seemed important in the eyes of the world. But God saw his heart.
In our busy lives, we may overlook the quiet ways God is working around us. Like St. Joseph, we are invited to trust God and follow Him in the ordinary moments of life.
May the Lord open our eyes and help us see with faith this week.
Reflective Questions for the Week
What might God be trying to show me in my life right now that I have not noticed before?
How can I bring more light and kindness into my home or workplace this week?
In what way can I imitate Saint Joseph by trusting God more deeply in my daily life?
May God bless you and your families this week.