There is a wonderful account in the New Testament’s Acts of the Apostles (9:1-20) about the conversion that St. Paul (formerly Saul) experienced on the road to Damascus. Take a moment to read it and consider its significance for all of us who strive to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. It is the Lord who wants to continually sharpen our spiritual sight so that we can see him more clearly in all aspects of our lives.
Our physical sight is such a gift, the sense that enables us to see the beauty of creation, the people in our lives, and to see where we are going. Some people have perfect vision, some have more limited sight needing the support of glasses or contact lenses. And, some do not have the physical ability of sight.
There’s another kind of sight that is even more profound and powerful — spiritual vision. This is the ability to recognize God, and God’s promptings, truth, and presence. In the passage from Acts, Saul thought he was seeing rightly in his persecution of those who belonged to the Way, those new believers in Jesus Christ risen from the dead. But Jesus gave him new eyes on the road to Damascus so he could recognize Jesus and believe that he is the Son of God. Through that experience of the Lord, Paul grew a powerful relationship with Christ that totally changed his life, his sight. In a similar way, Ananias thought he clearly saw Saul as someone to fear, rather than care for. The Lord helped him to see Saul in a new way, too.
A good reflection for us invites us to ask our spiritual vision may need some correction? Perhaps in how we see ourselves and other people, those close to us and strangers. Is there a need for correction when we think of our past choices, our mistakes, or our present circumstances, including how we see God? Again, Jesus wants to help us sharpen our spiritual sight so that we can embrace what is called a faith vision…to see the Lord more clearly in all things, to see with the loving, compassionate eyes of Jesus Christ! A great daily prayer is asking the Lord to give us perfect vision!
Please know that I have discovered a new vision for my life called retirement! After 46 years of priestly ministry throughout the Diocese of Madison, the last 10 of which have been at St. Clare of Assisi here in Monroe, I will embrace this new lifestyle in mid-July. While I am retiring from parish ministry, I will continue as Director of the Apostolate for Person with Disabilities for the Diocese. My new residence will be in Madison. My years here have been wonderful, and I will greatly miss the people of the parish and this community. I retire with a grateful heart for the privilege of ministry among you.
— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Msgr. Larry M. Bakke is pastor for St. Clare of Assisi Parish and director of the Apostolate to the Handicapped for the Diocese of Madison.
