Both readings refer to the importance of being able to recognize the role of faith. In the first reading, Peter and John do not have money, but Jesus. In the gospel the explanations of the scriptures do not make sense until the breaking of the bread. Readings for Today.
I just started to wear progressive lenses. They are bifocals, but they do not have the line that separates the lenses. While they take a little getting used to, the adjustment has not been all that much. And I appreciate being able to see things more clearly. Even though they are not that powerful, I can recognize much more now than before.
Sometimes we use the expression "the eyes of faith" to describe a type of seeing that is not limited to the physical world. It is the case that with the "eyes of faith" we are able to see a person's dignity that may not be obvious to us with physical senses.
This is part of the challenge of the debate in our present age over immigration. Some see physically that migrants and refugees are only visible in ways that cause some to focus only on themselves. They see migrants and refugees as threats, criminals, less than human.
But with the eyes of faith, Catholics view refugees and migrants as Christ, and as such have a high view of what we should do to help them. Failing to help migrants and refugees is failing to help Christ himself.
The difference between the two ways of seeing is whether or not we can recognize Jesus. In today's gospel, the two disciples cannot recognize Jesus. They can appreciate the knowledge of the one they walk with, but they cannot see his as the preacher in whom they put their hopes.
How can it be that someone they knew well enough to follow they could not recognize when they hear him explain so much of the scriptures? How is it that their physical senses could not recognize Jesus? How is it that they could only recognize Jesus with the eyes of faith?
To truly see Jesus, they needed to encounter liturgy. They needed to be at Mass. And in this is a great and important lesson for each one of us today. Where is it we truly recognize Jesus? It is when we go to Mass and Jesus becomes present in the Eucharist.
Only then, with the eyes of our faith are we able to see Jesus clearly. In the breaking of the bread, the disciples on the road to Emmaus were able to see Jesus. Despite the burning hearts they experienced when Jesus explained the scriptures, they only recognized him in the breaking of bread.
We live in a time where some people simply cannot see with the eyes of faith. It is as if they are blind. They cannot see the action of God, the presence of Jesus, the movement of the Holy Spirit.
And yet the lesson of the gospel is that Jesus can heal this blindness, just as he did for Bartimaeus, or the man born blind, or the disciples in today's gospel. Just as Jesus does for physical sight, Jesus also does for those times when faith sight is blind and we cannot recognize Jesus.
Can you recognize Jesus in your life? Can you see Jesus in the events of your life? Do you sit with Jesus in the breaking of the bread? Can you recognize Jesus in the poor, the homeless, the migrant and the refugee?
The blindness in the eyes of faith can be healed by Jesus. He longs to do this. He wants to do this. He wants you to see that you can be forgiven of your sins, healed of your brokenness, invited into a powerful and infinite relationship with Jesus.
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