an eye-opening novena
" 'Rabboni,' the blind man said, 'I want to see.' Jesus said in reply, 'Be on your way. Your faith has healed you.' Immediately he received his sight and started to follow Him up the road." —Mark 10:51-52
To live God's word (see Jas 1:22), we must pray God's word. I invite you to pray a novena to be free from spiritual blindness. For nine days, pray: "I want to see" (Mk 10:51).
Most Christians believe that other people, including their spouses, family members, neighbors, and fellow workers, need to see much better spiritually. The sin, injustice, abortion, racism, and oppression in our culture of death prove that we live in an epidemic of spiritual blindness. Nevertheless, we find it difficult to believe that we are spiritually blind or even that we have planks in our eyes while others may have only specks in theirs (Mt 7:5). We are tempted to react like the Pharisees when they said to Jesus: "You are not calling us blind, are You?" (Jn 9:40)
You may be so holy that you are not spiritually blind. Yet are you certain that you have 20/20 vision spiritually? If you're blind to being blind, you are trapped. If you're not sure you have 20/20 vision, pray the novena to be freed from spiritual blindness. Try to go to Mass daily or as often as possible. Go to Confession. Pray daily: "I want to see." Invite others to join you. Write and tell us the good news.
Prayer: Father, in this novena teach me about myself.
Promise: "I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst." —Jer 31:8
Praise: Praise the risen Jesus, our Healer, Light, and Hope!
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape Spiritual Blindness on audio AV 65-1 or video V-65.)
Rescript:
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Giles H. Pater, April 24, 2003
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 28, 2003