In the First Book of Samuel, the Lord reminds Samuel of something we all need to hear: “Not as man sees does God see.” When Samuel looked at Jesse’s sons, he naturally assumed the strongest and most impressive must be the one God had chosen. Yet it was David-the youngest, the shepherd, the one overlooked-whom the Lord had anointed. God sees the heart. We live in a world that is quick to judge by appearances, success, or status. But the Lord looks deeper. He sees faith, humility, kindness, and a willingness to trust Him. The story reminds us that God often works through people and places others might overlook.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus heals the man born blind, but the greater miracle is not only that the man receives sight-it is that he comes to see who Jesus truly is. Meanwhile, those who believed they could see clearly-the Pharisees-remain spiritually blind. This Gospel invites us to reflect on our own vision. Do we recognize Christ at work in our lives, even in unexpected ways? Like the man in the Gospel, our faith often grows step by step as we encounter the Lord. As we continue our Lenten journey, we might ask the Lord to open our eyes-to see Him more clearly, to recognize His grace around us, and to see others as God sees them: with love, dignity, and possibility.
This last week we had a phenomenal speaker on how to protect Catholic families online, Dr. Peter Kleponis. I wanted to thank Dr. Kleponis. What great information that every parent needs to hear, but especially Catholic parents. I do have to say I was very disappointed in the number of people that attended. I know we had to cancel one night because of travel issues for the speaker, but every parent in our parish and school should have been there. The information was invaluable.
When we bring a speaker for a mission or any subject, I promise only the best. Please make these events a greater priority. For those who still want to watch, the talk is on our parish Facebook page for the next 30 days and then it will be gone. I highly encourage every parent to watch.
Lastly, we need some school families to step up to help make the parish picnic a reality. I don’t know how we got to this little a number and no one was recruited sooner, but we need people to step up. This is not only a great moment to evangelize and bring people to our property that otherwise may never come here, but it is also a huge fundraiser for the school. Please prayerfully consider stepping up. This is a great way to be a good steward for the parish and school. Contact me or Mrs. Radel if you are willing.
Father Arisman