Seeing with spiritual eyes
In recent years, my perfect 20/20 vision has started to diminish and I’ve been forced to wear glasses to read and perform detailed tasks and jobs. My glasses frequently become dirty and smudged, which interferes with my ability to see. My wife will often gently take my glasses and offer to clean them.
Prompted by the Holy Spirit, I decided to go to reconciliation several months ago. Afterwards, the Lord gently spoke to my heart and used my dirty glasses as an example. Going through life, the eyes of our heart often get dirty and smudged due to our weaknesses and sins, which prevent us from fully seeing and experiencing the love of God and sharing this love with those around us. Going to reconciliation allows Jesus to forgive our weakness and sins, no matter the seriousness of our sins. Just as my wife cleans my eyeglasses so that I can see clearly, Jesus Christ cleans the eyes of my heart through the sacrament of reconciliation.
With clean spiritual eyes, I can more fully experience Jesus in the sacraments, Scriptures and community. I can more clearly see Jesus in the poor and suffering in our world. I can see Jesus shepherding me to his holy and eternal mountain. With clean spiritual eyes, I can rejoice that I’m a child of God and part of his everlasting family.
This Lent, I encourage people to take advantage of the gift of reconciliation and the cleaning of our spiritual eyes. Catholics have received a wonderful gift that pours grace upon grace into our hearts through this sacrament. This grace wipes away sin and gives us strength to walk closer to Jesus in the midst of the many temptations in life.
Mike Gannon
Milford, Iowa
