God values inner character, integrity, and spiritual devotion more than outward appearance, height, or social status. Human beings look at appearances, but God sees the heart (a person’s true character and inner moral life). We are invited to be sincere people and to be loved by God. In this way, we will be able to see others as God sees them and love them for who they truly are.

In the first reading, God instructs Samuel to choose David as king even though he had been overlooked by his family, because his heart was in tune with God. Here we can also see that God chooses leaders according to His own standards, not human criteria. Nowadays, many norms are established for becoming a desirable person in society. Furthermore, appearance is becoming a criterion for judging a person for who they are. For this reason, people focus on outward appearances just to meet the requirements. In reality, we are encouraged to look beyond physical appearance when evaluating others, because only the heart can reveal the truth. The truth is revealed when there is light.

The second reading says, ‘You are the light of the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good, just and true) and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord’ (Ephesians 5:8-10). As children of light, we are called to live in such a way that we bring God’s love and light to others. But we can only be light when our lives meet God’s standards. For this, we must allow God to work in our lives. God’s light can reveal our true selves and help us see others through God’s eyes. In the Gospel, Jesus reveals himself as the light of the world. He brings light to a blind man who does not meet society’s standards and has been rejected by others. Jesus sees the quality of his heart and not his outward appearance. Because the blind man opened himself to let God’s light shine in his heart.

During this season of Lent, let us open ourselves to allow God’s light to shine in our lives, so that we may overcome the forces of darkness and see and love others as God does.

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).