21 At that moment he was filled with joy by the Ruach HaKodesh and said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I thank you because you concealed these things from the sophisticated and educated, yet revealed them to ordinary people. Yes, Father, I thank you that it pleased you to do this.
22 “My Father has handed over everything to me. Indeed, no one fully knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” 23 Then, turning to the talmidim, he said, privately, “How blessed are the eyes that see what you are seeing! 24 Indeed, I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things you are seeing but did not see them, and to hear the things you are hearing but did not hear them.”
Common of the Blessed Virgin MaryBlessed are the eyes. (Luke 10:23)
Can you imagine how ecstatic the disciples must have felt? They had just returned from one of their first mission trips, where they had seen people healed and spiritual oppression lifted. And yet Jesus challenged them to look past the immediate circumstances of what had happened so that they could grasp a bigger vision. It was not only about their success; it was about the kingdom of heaven. People had been longing to see these things for hundreds of years—they were witnesses to history! So let’s take a look at some of the blessings that Jesus wants to tell us about.
“Blessed are your eyes because you have seen me in the quiet place of prayer. You have come to know me through the Scriptures. You have looked on the Host at Mass with eyes of faith and seen me, your Redeemer, ready to feed and nourish you. You have seen me change your heart.
“Blessed are your eyes because you have seen me work in the lives of people you love. I have brought family members back to me; I have healed wounded relationships and brought peace to the anxious; I have knit people together in love. In big and small ways, I have manifested myself to your loved ones.
“Blessed are your eyes because you have seen me in the faces of those in need. You have seen me weeping for the abused and neglected. You have seen my image stamped on every human life, even those whom you don’t like. You have seen me in the people—including yourself—who care for the lost and suffering.
“Blessed are your eyes because you have seen the impossible. You have seen hearts transformed, drastic situations resolved, and mourning turned into dancing. You know in your heart that my Holy Spirit is at work bringing new life and renewal.”
Jesus wants to expand our vision, so that we can look past our immediate circumstances and see how much more he is doing in our lives and in the world around us. So take a moment right now to quiet your heart. Imagine that Jesus is speaking to you. Let the Holy Spirit elaborate on specific events in your own life.
“Thank you, Lord, for all that I have seen. I am amazed at what you have done so far! Continue to open my eyes to see you more.” Amen!
Baruch 4: Poem of encouragement
5 Be confident, my people,
you who are the legacy of Israel!
6 You weren’t sold to the nations
for complete destruction,
but you were handed over
to your opponents
because you made God angry.
7 You upset your creator
when you sacrificed to demons
and not to God.
8 You forgot the eternal God
who raised you;
and you caused pain to Jerusalem,
who nurtured you.
9 Jerusalem saw the wrath of God
that came on you and said:
Neighbors of Zion, listen!
God has brought me great grief.
10 I have watched my sons and daughters taken captive,
the action of the eternal one.
11 I nursed them joyfully,
but I sent them away
with tears and mourning.
12 Don’t any of you rejoice over me,
a widow deserted by many.
My children avoided God’s Law,
so I was stripped bare
because of their sins.
27 Children, be confident!
Cry out to God,
for the one who brought this on you will remember you.
28 Just as you plotted
to stray away from God,
return with ten times as much effort
to seek him out.
29 The one who brought
these horrible things on you
will bring you eternal joy
along with your deliverance.
Psalm 69:33 (32) The afflicted will see it and rejoice;
you seeking after God, let your heart revive.
34 (33) For Adonai pays attention to the needy
and doesn’t scorn his captive people.
35 (34) Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and whatever moves in them.
36 (35) For God will save Tziyon,
he will build the cities of Y’hudah.
[His people] will settle there and possess it.
37 (36) The descendants of his servants will inherit it,
and those who love his name will live there.
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