Isaiah 8:23 – 9:3 / 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17 / Matthew 4:12-23
There are many things that we take for granted, and we will only realize it when they are taken away from us.
One of which is our ability to see. To be able to see is a great gift, and there are so many things that our eyes are doing for us.
With our eyes we are able to admire the beauty of the things around us. We are able to read books and watch videos and movies. We are able to see people's expressions and actions and we can also see how they feel.
As much as we can see, we may not be able to see that clearly, or see deeper than appearances.
When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he saw Him as more than just another ordinary person.
John the Baptist saw Jesus as the Lamb of God. He even saw the Holy Spirit come down upon Him at His baptism.
John the Baptist was able to recognize Jesus and see more and see deeper when John the Baptist baptized Jesus and saw the Holy Spirit come down upon Jesus.
We may not see the dramatic things that John the Baptist saw.
But the Holy Spirit will open our eyes to see what God wants us to see.
At our baptism, the Holy Spirit came down upon us to enable us to see that we are created in the image of God and to be able to see God's love in us.
And we are also given eyes of love to see that every person is created in the image of God and to see God's love in every person.
But just as we have to take care of our eyes so that we can see clearly, we also need to take care of our faith in order to see what God wants us to see.
There is this story of a person who came from overseas and he was looking for a church to attend worship services.
He came to a parish and he approached the priest and he asked the priest, “How are the people in this parish? Are they nice?”
The priest replied, “How are the people in the parish you came from?”
The person replied, “Arg! They are selfish and proud. The rich look down on the poor and there are often quarrels here and there.”
The priest replied, “Oh, the people in this parish are also like that.”
Some time later, another person, also from overseas, came to the parish and asked the priest, “How are the people in this parish? Are they nice?”
The priest replied, “How are the people in the parish you came from?”
That person replied, “Hmmm. They are kind and helpful. They look out for each other and offer help to those in need.”
The priest replied. “Oh, the people in this parish are also like that.”
What we see around us and what we see in others is often a reflection of ourselves.
God gave us eyes to see His love in others. When we can see God's love in others, then we are also looking at a reflection of ourselves.
So let us see kindness and compassion, let us see goodness and beauty in others, and we will be looking at a reflection of ourselves.
And it is also a reflection of the love and the image of God in ourselves and in others.