Spiritual Vision - Family Reflection Video

How many of you have or have had cataracts, maybe even needing surgery?

Most of us develop cataracts over a fairly long period of time, but Tobit, a devout Jewish man, had it happen in a matter of hours. And God would use this visual impairment to teach Tobit and those around him.

For those of you who haven’t experienced a cataract problem, usually it’s first noticed while driving at night; the oncoming headlight beams cause a whiteout-like situation that prevents you from seeing the road, cars, etc. As time goes by, daytime vision becomes a problem, too, causing blurred vision and eyestrain. The doctors increase your eyeglass prescription and have you wear special sunglasses, but in the end, most of us need surgery to be able to see properly.

In Tobit’s case, he’s consulted with doctors looking for a cure but it only gets worse, even with treatment, and, as we heard, he can no longer see. Some scholars estimate Tobit was 58 when this started. We can presume that his lack of sight and inability to work must have done a number on his sense of self-worth and, perhaps, as his wife suggests, affected his faith and virtue.

If you think about it, Tobit’s experience can remind us of Paul being knocked off his horse, being blinded, and then scales forming on his eyes. Or perhaps it reminds you of another holy man, Job, and all that he endured.

From time to time, our spiritual vision becomes impaired like Tobit’s. Sometimes, we get distracted by the busyness of life or confused by conflicting teachings regarding the practice of our faith. Other times, it’s because of our culture’s message predominating and pushing away the true teachings of Jesus and the Catholic Church. And, lastly, sometimes our spiritual vision becomes blurred because of our inattention or temptations to place the world’s rewards before God.

I’ve got good news: Tobit’s vision is restored in the end. Scholars estimate that it took eight years. Like Job, Tobit persisted in prayer to God, and his faith was rewarded. God sent the angel Raphael to lead Tobit’s son, Tobias, on a mission that results in the restoration of Tobit’s sight. God uses Tobit’s son to help in this healing; a reminder of how family members are meant to help one another along the way.

Importance of Prayer

Whether it’s our physical health, relationships, or spiritual health, Tobit’s story reminds us of the importance of always turning to God in prayer. As we heard in the gospel, the wisdom of God is greater than any of us or the most gifted. God’s wisdom and healing are meant to help us grow in our relationship with Him and with each other.

But as Father Fred said in a homily on Sunday, it’s not enough to know about God and His Word; we need to know Him personally. We need to have a friendship with God that allows us to call upon Him for the big and the small challenges in our lives, especially when we have trouble seeing the way through or around things.

You know, one of the greatest surprises for me after cataract surgery was how vibrant the colors are … everything went from a blandness to a high-def vibrancy of blues and reds and yellows and greens! That’s what God offers us, too; not just the ability to see where we are to go, but to see the richness of the people and places along the way, when we travel with Him.

• Today’s readings

• Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.) 

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