Each of us is shaped by our upbringing, experiences, and personal tendencies, which influence what we notice and how we interpret the world around us. This can lead to a kind of tunnel vision, where we focus only on our own needs, desires, or struggles, often missing the deeper realities or the needs of others. The call is to ask God to open our eyes, to see beyond ourselves, and to perceive the world—and especially other people—with the compassionate, attentive vision of Christ. When we come to worship, we are invited to pray for this grace: to see as Jesus sees, to notice what He notices, and to respond with love and understanding. [05:55]
Matthew 6:22-23 (ESV)
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”
Reflection: In what area of your life do you find yourself most “tunnel-visioned,” and how can you ask God today to help you see that situation or person with Christ’s perspective?
The story of the rich man and Lazarus is a powerful reminder that it is not enough to simply exist alongside those in need; we are called to truly see them, recognize their dignity, and respond with compassion. The rich man’s failure was not just in his wealth, but in his blindness to Lazarus’ suffering and his refusal to act. This blindness can persist even into eternity if we do not allow our hearts to be changed. The Christian mission is to care for the poor and vulnerable, not only materially but also spiritually and emotionally, using whatever resources and gifts we have been given. [02:14]
Luke 16:19-31 (ESV)
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
Reflection: Who is someone in your life or community whose needs you have overlooked? What is one concrete way you can acknowledge their dignity and respond to them this week?
Paul’s exhortation to Timothy is a call to pursue a life marked by righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. These virtues are not just ideals but practical guides for how to live and see the world differently. When we focus on these qualities, our vision shifts from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness, and we are better able to discern what truly matters. Competing well for the faith means striving daily to grow in these virtues, allowing them to shape our actions and relationships, and to help us run the race toward the kingdom of God. [05:55]
1 Timothy 6:11-12 (ESV)
“But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Reflection: Which of the virtues Paul lists—righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness—do you most need to pursue right now, and what is one step you can take today to grow in that area?
God’s truth is not hidden; it is revealed through Moses, the prophets, the Scriptures, and the lived experience of the faithful. Yet, it requires a response—an openness to listen, to embrace, and to act. Miracles alone do not convince hearts; it is the willingness to receive and respond to God’s word that brings transformation. The invitation is to lean into the truth already given, to let it shape our vision and our lives, and to participate actively in God’s ongoing work in the world. [02:14]
Psalm 119:105 (ESV)
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Reflection: How can you make space today to listen more attentively to God’s word—through Scripture, prayer, or the wisdom of others—and allow it to guide your decisions?
Sin often narrows our vision, causing us to focus on desires or struggles that seem all-consuming. But Christ offers us grace through the sacraments and through prayer, inviting us to let go of what blinds us and to see with a renewed, loving heart. Coming to worship and receiving communion are opportunities to ask for this healing, to allow Christ to cleanse our vision, and to help us see ourselves and others as He does. This is a daily process of opening up to God’s grace, letting it challenge and transform us, and responding with greater love and clarity. [05:55]
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (ESV)
“But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
Reflection: What is one area where you need Christ’s grace to heal your vision or attitude? How can you invite Him into that place through prayer or the sacraments this week?
Today’s reflection centers on the theme of vision—what we see, how we see, and why we see the way we do. Each of us is shaped by our upbringing, experiences, and personal histories, which in turn influence not only our actions but also our sins and struggles. We tend to focus on certain things, sometimes to the exclusion of others, and this selective vision can blind us to the needs and dignity of those around us. The readings invite us to examine what we are consuming—not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally—and to consider how our focus shapes our lives and our relationships with others.
The story of the rich man and Lazarus is a powerful illustration of this. The rich man’s vision is so narrow that he fails to see Lazarus as a person with dignity and need. Even in the afterlife, his perspective does not change; he still sees Lazarus only in terms of what Lazarus can do for him. This blindness is not just a personal failing but a spiritual one, rooted in a refusal to see with the eyes of Christ. The truth of God’s call to care for the poor and to recognize the suffering of others has been revealed through Moses, the prophets, and ultimately through Christ himself. Yet, as the story shows, even the greatest miracles cannot convince those who refuse to see.
Paul’s exhortation to Timothy offers a remedy: to pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. These virtues help to broaden our vision, allowing us to see beyond our own desires and preoccupations. Sin often arises when our focus becomes too narrow, when we are consumed by our own needs and wants. The practices of our faith—prayer, the sacraments, and especially the Eucharist—are given to us to help us see more clearly, to open our hearts to the needs of others, and to align our vision with Christ’s.
As we gather in worship, we are invited to ask for the grace to see with new eyes, to recognize where our vision has become limited or self-centered, and to respond with greater love and compassion. The challenge is to allow Christ to expand our perspective, to see the dignity of every person, and to run the race of faith with perseverance and hope.
Luke 16:19-31 (ESV) – The Rich Man and Lazarus — > “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
1 Timothy 6:11-12 (ESV) — > “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
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