This is very possibly what our blind man in today's Gospel might have said to his neighbors and the Pharisees who refused, even belligerently, to see him in his newly, sighted created state. We ourselves know how challenging it can be at times to 'see' people for who they are on the inside, given their outward appearances or our previously conceived notions of what or who they should be. Just as we hear in the first reading when God informs Samuel that appearances are not always what they seem, we too need to be wary of 'judging a book by its cover.' But this isn't always easy  and some people just don't get it. No matter how many times you try to get someone to see something in a particular light, they simply refuse to understand what you are trying to tell them. Our uneducated blind man who at first doesn't know Christ, soon calls him a prophet and then begins to actually instruct and chastise the Pharisees for their lack of vision and ultimately, with a growing awareness obtained through his new sight, acknowledges Jesus' divinity. How wonderful to have such understanding and insight!  

But sadly, the light of Christ is just too much for some people to consider; they feel the need to keep their eyes shut, refusing the light that Christ offers. If they would only open their eyes and see this light they could, as Paul tells us in his epistle to the Ephesians, become the light themselves.  This can be challenging for any one of us in today's world, which seems overrun at times by darkness, blurring our perceptions and making it difficult to find, let alone see, the love that abides everywhere, in everyone.  But it is imperative that we be the Light in today's world to those  who refuse to open their eyes; when we meet adversity and refusal or denial of what is actually good. We must continue to perpetuate and spread the light Christ brought, and just as one candle light passes light to another, go forth cultivating this light so that all can see the wonder of God...so they have no other choice but to open their eyes!

As if a valley placed in the middle of our readings today, we are reminded in Psalm 23 that God is always with us. Bobby Mcferrin's rendition of this Psalm offers us a chance to peacefully experience God our creator to refreshing our soul and renewing our strength to fan the flame of the light of Christ as we continue our Lenten journey.