'I' sight

THE STORY is told about a man who went to his doctor to get a new pair of eyeglasses. The very next day, he was back to his ophthalmologist. "Are your glasses okay?" asked the ophthalmologist. "My glasses are fine, but I am returning them, because my wife still doesn't see it my way," replied the man.

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In today's Gospel (Mt. 9, 9-13), we are reminded that God's way of seeing is broader than our way of seeing. He looks at sinners with respect, understanding, compassion and love. It is said that when God looks at us, He covers one eye so that He will not see the negative in us. The problem with many of us is that we open our two eyes, and even use magnifying glasses to see the negative in other people and in us.

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Are you a judgmental person? Remember the story about a farmer and his faithful dog? Every day, the farmer would leave the baby in the crib under the watchful eye of his faithful dog while he went out to farm. One day, however, when he was coming home, he was met by his dog all bloodied in its chest and mouth. In anger, the farmer got his bolo, slew the dog, and ran to the house. To his surprise, he saw the baby, safe in the crib, under which lay a big, dead snake, obviously killed by his faithful dog, which unfortunately, in his rush judgment and anger, he himself had earlier killed. How often have we "killed" people in our hearts and minds? How often have we labeled them?

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Whenever we are tempted to judge or to be closed-minded, let us resort to prayer, and ask for His sight: "Lord, this is how I look at it, but how do you look at it, Lord? This is how it looks from my end, but how, how does it look from your end?" May we always have the humility and the openness to broaden our horizons at any moment of our lives.

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Last week a couple walked into my office for counseling. It was a painful case of infidelity on the wife's part. At first, the husband was so full of anger. He said he could not forgive and trust again. We were going nowhere in our session when the wife said to the husband: "Did I not forgive you and trust you again when you also committed infidelity five years ago?" That was the breakthrough that made him realize that he too had sinned and had been forgiven. He too had fallen and had been raised. People who have never experienced falling and being forgiven often become proud and unforgiving. God has a hard time dealing with people who rely more on their goodness rather than on His mercy. To them I say: My goodness! Can't you see that your goodness is so little compared to God's mercy?

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By the way, how is your eyesight? Maybe you don't have a problem with your eyesight, but how about your "I" sight? Do you see "I," say "I," think "I," and do "I" most of the time? You better have your "I" checked. My guess is that you have a bloated "I."

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The following are the symptoms of having an "I" sight problem: selfishness, pride, arrogance, impatience, unforgivingness, manipulation, intolerance, anger, envy, sensitivity, deceit, denial, etc. If you have these, please consult the Lord in prayer. He will tell you that the cause of your "I" sight problem is your uncontrolled selfishness and high pride. The cure is simple humility. Humility toward God, and toward other people. It will lead you to see His sight, and that will enable you to see other peoples' sight.

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It's back to school once again. We salute all students who brave the road of education that will lead them to greater heights and sights, and the teachers and parents who accompany them on the road. Aside from knowledge and know-how, are we teaching the future generation to be generous and giving? Are we turning up children who have big heads and big pockets, but who have small hearts? Are we passing on our "I" sight disease unto them?

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Inviting you to the launching of "Heartfelt Moments" on Sunday, June 12, 2005, at the 6:30 p.m. Mass at Christ the King Seminary Church (E. Rodriguez Sr. Blvd., QC). This album (CD and cassette) is a collection of songs and prayers I have composed through the years, which I hope will inspire and bring people to a moment of prayer, especially the ones sung by the blind 11-year-old Fatima Soriano. May this album help cure people of their "I" sight, and make them realize that there are people who are laden with bigger problems than they are, and that there is a God who is bigger than our achievements, our sufferings, our illnesses and weaknesses. God willing, the visionary Julia Kim from Naju, Korea will join us in the launching. See you! Let us help Fatima gain her sight, and also help our Filipino SVD missionaries through the funds that will be raised from the sale of the album.

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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, please cure me of my "I" sight. Amen.

E-mail jorbos@manila-online.net