One of the unexpected benefits of being a priest and living an independent lifestyle is that I am almost always the driver whenever I go somewhere. Now, if you don’t like to drive or you need to get other things done on the way, that can be a problem. But for control-freaks like me, it’s wonderful. On the rare occasions when I’m the passenger in someone else’s car, I’m always on edge if I don’t think they’re as attentive to the road as I want them to be.
And one of the most terrifying people to ride with is the driver who thinks they need to make constant eye contact while you talk. I appreciate active listening skills as much as anyone, but when it comes to driving, I want my pilot’s eyes on the road and the mirrors…not on my face! It's just a basic fact of life: where we look is where our attention goes.
I’m reminded of this whenever I visit a school classroom. Before the lesson begins, the teacher often says something cute like, “One, two, three, eyes on me!” If the kids don’t actually look at the person in front of them, they will inevitably be distracted by everything else in the room.
Of course, this idea of “looking at what matters” isn’t just about physical sight. It’s true spiritually as well.
In our second reading, St. Paul calls out the Christians in Thessalonica for becoming “busybodies”, for focusing not on the road God has placed in front of them, but instead looking sideways into the business of others. What we choose to look at with the eyes of our heart is ultimately what we end up desiring. And today, it is very easy to take our eyes off the road to holiness.
Under the banner of “staying informed,” many Christians are consumed by news and commentary that does nothing but fill them with fear, anger, and agitation. Instead of working on our own path to holiness, many of us loudly offer our opinions on the faults, failures, and shortcomings of others. I think St. Paul would have a lot to say to our hyperconnected society, where people speak first and think later…if at all.
As we approach the end of the Church year, the readings turn our thoughts to the end of our lives and the end of the world. Since we don’t know when either of those will occur, the Church invites us to live each day with a kind of gentle readiness; a daily preparation to meet God face-to-face. This isn’t meant to be gloomy or morbid. It’s actually quite freeing. When we prepare our hearts a little each day, we’re reminded of what really matters, what’s worth worrying about, and what’s not. It helps us make sure our spiritual house is in order, so that when we meet the Lord, we can do so with confidence and peace.
One of the biggest obstacles to this readiness is that sideways glance; looking into the business of others, or locking our attention on things that aren’t really our responsibility. So for the rest of this homily, I want to offer a little spiritual “vision test”: a gentle examination of where our eyes, our minds, and our hearts might be looking these days.
Let’s begin with our physical vision. What do I choose to look at? When I look out at the world, do I notice God’s beauty, His fingerprints in creation, the simple miracles that surround me? Or do I rush from one thing to another?
When I look at others, do I search for the good or am I quick to highlight flaws, weaknesses, and failures? Do I carry a critical eye toward my family, my coworkers, my friends, and anyone who crosses my path? What do I allow my eyes to rest on?
Then there’s what we look at online. What do I consume? Am I constantly staring at the possessions, vacations, or lives of others…feeding jealousy or resentment? Do I view others as brothers and sisters in Christ, people Jesus died for and loves as much as He loves me? Or do I slip into judgment, comparison, or even contempt?
And yes, we need to ask the hard question: Do I use my eyes to objectify others? Are the sites, influencers, and videos I willingly place in front of me things I could watch with my spouse, my grandmother, or one of the parish priests standing next to me? In seminary they told us, half jokingly, to imagine the archbishop beside us whenever we got online. I’m not sure how effective that was, but the point stuck. All I will say is I hope he likes watching videos on Youtube about lawn mowers and woodworking!
Finally, there’s the most intimate glance of all: What do I see when I look in the mirror? Do I see someone uniquely crafted and loved by God? Do I see a person Jesus willingly died for by name? Do I recognize that God delights in me, desires my friendship, and knows me more deeply than I know myself? Or do I stare into the mirror full of self-criticism, comparing myself to others, or defining myself by my worst moments? Do I doubt that I am lovable, good, and worth God’s grace?
Because the truth is simple: our hearts move in the direction of our vision. If we consistently focus on the negative, the critical, the imperfect, whether in ourselves or others, our hearts will drift toward negativity and discouragement. If we fixate on the lives of others, becoming spiritual busybodies, we’ll miss the real work God wants to do in our lives. God can’t give us grace in the places we refuse to look. And we can’t have peace, joy, or holiness when our eyes are glued anywhere except God and the path He has laid out for us.
So as we approach the end of this liturgical year, let’s ask God to help us sharpen our spiritual vision. To see more clearly. To look at what truly matters. To look at Him.
Like children in a classroom, we need God to gently redirect our focus from time to time. And that’s okay. We never outgrow being His sons and daughters. So we can say:
“Jesus, we want to see you. We want to see you in our homes, in our families, in our friendships, in our work, and in ourselves. Keep our eyes fixed on you. And whenever we start to drift or get distracted…don’t hesitate to whisper to our hearts, ‘One, two, three…eyes on me!’”
