WHAT PAIR OF EYES DO YOU HAVE?
During
the time of Jesus, rabbis typically visit the synagogue on a Sabbath to
preach. As there are several rabbis, each one is given a turn. When a
rabbi preaches, all eyes and ears are glued on him.
In my experience as a priest who regularly speaks in front of many
people, I realize, too, that there are many kinds of eyes that look at
me. There are eyes that look for guidance and inspiration. They look
upon the priest, minister or preacher as a symbol of God.
And there are eyes that look with starstruck fascination. They follow
the person’s every move and gesture. They hang on to his every word.
There are also eyes that look with suspicion, resentment, insecurity
and malice. Believing that they can do better than what the preacher can
do, they look at him as a rival and threat. These are the eyes that
watched Jesus today in the Gospel. The first line says it all: “The
Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to
accuse Jesus, so they watched Him closely to see if He would heal on the
Sabbath” (v.7).
They watched Him closely. If looks could kill, this was it. Biblical
scholars note that the word used for this look was paratereo. It could
be translated as “to spy on” or “to observe with malicious intent out of
the corner of one’s eye.” This kind of look is blind to goodness
because it is evil by its nature. Sadly, it sees evil only on the other
and never on the self. No wonder the Pharisees didn’t see the
life-giving miracle Jesus performed. The only thing their look afforded
them was a fury that led them to discuss with one another what they
might do to Jesus at the opportune time.
To be aware of a single shortcoming within oneself is more useful
than to be aware of a thousand in somebody else. Change happens in a
family or in a community when I realize that change begins with me, not
in always trying to change others. Change happens in a community when
the individual realizes that he has to change as well. Otherwise, that
community remains to be a finger-pointing community. Fr. Joel Jason
REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What is the quality of your look? What pair of eyes do you have?
Lord, today, help me see my faults and recognize the good that is in others. Amen.
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