Gospel Reflection
“Lord, open my eyes… and make me an instrument of Your light.”
The Fourth Sunday of Lent, we encounter the man born blind – a man who begins in darkness yet ends the Gospel seeing more clearly than anyone else. His journey from blindness to belief mirrors the spiritual journey we are invited to make during Lent.
In this Year of St Francis, the Gospel takes on a deeper meaning. Francis of Assisi was a man whose inner eyes were opened through a profound conversion of heart. He learned to see the world with God’s eyes — with humility, compassion, and a deep reverence for every person and every creature. His life reminds us that true sight is not just about vision, but about recognising Christ in the ordinary and the overlooked.
This theme of spiritual sight is also beautifully echoed in the Maronite Catholic tradition. Consider St Charbel Makhlouf, whose life of silence, prayer, and deep union with God allowed him to “see” with extraordinary clarity. Though he lived hidden in a hermitage, people were drawn to him because he saw them with the eyes of Christ – with tenderness, healing, and spiritual insight. Like the man born blind, St Charbel teaches us that when we allow Christ to touch our hearts, we begin to see the world in a new and grace‑filled way.
The Greek Orthodox tradition offers a similar witness in St Porphyrios of Kafsokalivia, a modern saint known for his spiritual vision and profound love. St Porphyrios often spoke about seeing Christ in every person and every moment, even in suffering. He encouraged believers to “look at everything with love,” trusting that God’s light is always present, even when circumstances seem dark. His life reminds us that spiritual sight grows when we cultivate gentleness, humility, and a heart open to God.
Together, these saints – Francis, Charbel, and Porphyrios – show us what it means to live with eyes wide open to God’s presence.
Today’s Gospel invites us to pray with their spirit:
- to see Christ in the poor, the vulnerable, and the overlooked
- to notice beauty where others see nothing
- to respond with peace where others choose conflict
- to walk humbly, trusting that God’s light is enough for the next step
As the man born blind proclaims, “Lord, I believe,” may we echo his words with the same courage and clarity. And as St Francis prayed, may we ask:
“Lord, make me an instrument of Your light.”
May this Lent be a time of seeing anew – with the eyes of Christ, the heart of Francis, the faith of St Charbel, and the gentle wisdom of St Porphyrios.
