Spiritual Blindness Weekly Summary
Monday
Spiritual blindness is a term I use to describe being unable to perceive or understand the spiritual implications of occurrences in our lives. It is a lack of awareness, insight, or understanding that our experiences have a spiritual dimension. We interpret events as coincidences or rational cause and effect when often they are messages from our psyche or the spiritual realm. It is an inability to see beyond the physical or to comprehend spiritual concepts such as interconnectedness, transcendence, and the action of God in our lives.
Tuesday
Like with the blind man, Jesus suddenly breaks into our lives, initiates a new depth of relationship, sending us in a new direction, and curing us of our spiritual blindness. This intrusion, on the surface, is terrifying: a sudden loss of job, the passing of a loved one, a diagnosis of an illness, the end of a career, having to move house, news of the onset of mental illness - but beneath, at a spiritual level, it is being sent by Jesus to receive new sight. I refer to these moments as life transitions.
Wednesday
The man born blind struggles to assert himself in a world that doesn’t even give him a name. Yet with the help of Jesus he gradually gains self-confidence and as the story progresses he stands up to the authorities even challenging their perspective. He is the everday person who refuses to be defeated. With the help of grace he overcomes his challenges and rises above the corrupt leaders. We are the everyday people, who despite the odds, have a conversion experience, when Jesus breaks into our lives, initiating a growing transformation that leads us to increasing self-confidence, to believe we can change the world.
Thursday
I introduced two words ‘Conversion’ and ‘Transformation’. Conversion typically refers to a sudden or distinct moment of a dramatic change in beliefs or religious affiliation. It often involves adopting a new set of beliefs or committing to a particular spiritual path. For example, St Paul’s experience on the Road to Damascus.
Transformation, on the other hand, is a more gradual and holistic process that involves profound change on multiple levels - mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and sometimes physically. It goes beyond mere changes in beliefs or practices and often involves inner growth, personal development, and a deepening connection to one's inner self. Transformation may encompass changes in behavior, attitudes, perspectives, and ways of relating to oneself and God.
Friday
The Gospel is calling us to a transformative journey to new sight. We begin to see ourselves, our spouse, family and friends in a new more connected way. We see our vocation, our calling, our purpose in a new more meaningful way. We are being called to be Kingdom Builders, persons on a mission to transform our world. It involves personal transformation, leading to a life of holiness and integrity, and actively participating in God's redemptive work to bring hope, healing, and reconciliation to a broken world. Ultimately, it's about being agents of positive change, reflecting the values of the Kingdom of God, and spreading His transformative love to all corners of society.