As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam”—which means Sent — so he went and washed, and came back able to see. His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is, “ but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.”

They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a Sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath.”

But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.

“This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes,” the blind man cured by Jesus tells the Pharisees. Many colorblind individuals experience profound joy when they first see colors clearly with color-correcting glasses; some even burst into tears as they perceive the world anew.

We can imagine how the blind man in our Gospel reading feels when Jesus restores his sight. He can now distinguish colors and see the flowers, trees, temple, people, sun, and, of course, Jesus. After so long on the roadside, asking for alms from passersby, he surely appreciated the coins tossed into his tin can. Yet, the joy and wonder of being healed from blindness must be overwhelming.

Lent is not just about abstaining from certain things; it is also about opening our eyes to the areas in our lives that need change and becoming more attuned to God’s presence. We ask the Lord to heal us of our spiritual blindness. Where life’s troubles color our vision, we plead, “Lord, help us see the vibrant colors of our lives once again.”

When misunderstanding dims our hearts, we pray, “Lord, grant us humility to recognize the gift of each other.” When life feels dull and uninviting, we ask, “Lord, paint our hearts with strokes of gratitude, so we may see your presence in everything.”

In moments of anxiety and restlessness, we seek, “Lord, let us find comfort and consolation in our prayer.” When our love and service feel ashy and pale, we implore, “Lord, help us see you in our needy brothers and sisters.”

When we find ourselves on the roadside of despair, we cry, “Lord, open our eyes and light the candle of hope within us.” During this season of Lent, may God open our eyes so we can experience this season of grace more fully. Amen.