What a great collection of readings for us today, in this time of COVID-19! You can read them here

We are told today in the first reading to look carefully at everything around us, and not settle for first impressions. Look carefully for what? Look for God. look for God in all things, in all people everywhere. He shows Himself in places and ways least expected. This is a key message of Lent - prepare ourselves to encounter God in this moment, in the next person we meet, in the very next thing we see or hear. 
Can we learn to see God? I think we can start by trying to see like God sees. Samuel said that men see appearances, but the Lord looks into the heart. If someone could look into my heart, what would they see? I hate to think that’s what God sees of me all the time. But when I’m conscious of what I’m carrying in my heart, I know I’m open and clearer to seeing other people beyond how they appear, or how they behave. 
The second reading tells us to learn what pleases God, because that knowledge becomes the light that allows us to see God at work in the world. Goodness, righteousness and truth are signs of God’s presence. So are peace, joy, and calm. How do we learn what pleases the Lord? Prayer, scripture study, contemplation, Holy Eucharist, singing (i.e., praying twice!) are ways I seek that understanding. At least once a day I reflect on how I experience God in my life. It's amazing how many places I see God once I start asking that one simple question. 
How did I personally see God recently? 
         -  A former work colleague who was an atheist 15 years ago is now on fire with the Holy 
Spirit. 

         -  A sweet 2nd grader came up to me after mass to tell me that “you play guitar very 
well.” 

         -  A man suffering from a long term, debilitating illness passes away peacefully, 
surrounded by the family that loved him. 

         -  My college roommate and best man decided to study for the Permanent Deaconate. 

         -  A friend shared with me his conversion experience; his acceptance of Jesus as the 
Real Presence in the Eucharist. This was not your typical lunch conversation! 
In this time of fear and anxiety, Psalm 23, The Lord is My Shepherd, provides comfort and reassurance that God will always take care of us and will walk at our side. Take courage, for the troubles will pass, and goodness and kindness will be with us as long as we trust God. We’ve been given the tools we need to survive troubling times that test us physically, spiritually, and emotionally: trust in God, and have a clear vision of God’s work, prayer to be strengthened in both. 

 
In the Gospel, we learn about the man born blind, and the incredible power of being able to see (and speak) that which is of God. The man gained his vision through his encounter with Christ - that’s a take-away message for me. I must always be ready for my own encounter with Christ. I hope and pray that by actively looking for Christ in all things, I will learn to see Christ more clearly, and understand what pleases God. 
Take some time this week to ask yourself where you encountered God. I pray we have the vision to see God clearly in all His works.