Vlad Bunoan

Article (news)

Fr RB Hizon

Fr. Raymund Benedict "RB" Hizon, SJ

<p>If you walked into church today and felt a bit of a &quot;jolt&quot; at the sight of the color pink or rose, don’t worry — it’s not a fashion statement or a political one. It’s a liturgical &quot;deep breath.&quot;</p><p>In the middle of our Lenten observance, the Church suddenly changes its “wardrobe”, trading the somber purple of penance for a color that feels almost out of place. This is Laetare Sunday — a bold declaration that even in our darkest moments, the dawn is nigh. But here is the catch: the light can be shining directly on us, but if we refuse to open our eyes, we remain in the dark.</p><div> </div><div><strong>A different way of seeing</strong></div><p>We find this “opening of eyes” first in the story of Samuel. When he stands before the sons of Jesse, his human judgment is immediately drawn to Eliab’s height and stature. Samuel assumes that leadership must look a certain way.</p><p>But the Lord reminds him: “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance, but the Lord looks into the heart.”</p><p>This is a primary Lenten challenge: to see differently. We often look at the surface of things — what is immediate to the senses, the mistakes we’ve made, or the faults of others. But God invites us to a depth born of encounter and engagement. He asks us to look past the &quot;packaging&quot; and move deeper.</p><div> </div><div><strong>New eyes, new sights</strong></div><p>In the Gospel, we meet a man born blind. To him, darkness wasn’t just a tragedy; it was &quot;the way things are.&quot; Because he had no memory of light to miss, he lived in a dark world without horizons.</p><p>Many of us live in a similar state. We have lived so long with our biases, our grudges, or our indifference that we think what we see, even in the dark, is normal. We tell ourselves &quot;this is just how the world works,&quot; never realizing what we are missing.</p><p>When Jesus heals him, He doesn&#x27;t just &quot;repair&quot; his sight; He gives him new eyes. By using the clay of the earth — the same material God used to form us in Genesis — Jesus performs a work of New Creation. Lent is not just about &quot;fixing&quot; our sight; it is about receiving an entirely new way of experiencing the world through the lens of hope and faith.</p><div> </div><div><strong>The choice to stay blind </strong></div><p>The Gospel shows us a second group: the Pharisees. They had nearly perfect physical vision, yet they ended up in total darkness.</p><p>There is a Filipino proverb that captures their tragedy: “Mahirap gisingin ang nagtutulug-tulugan.” (It is nearly impossible to wake someone who is pretending to be asleep.) In their case: “Mahirap mulatin ang nagbubulag-bulagan.”</p><p>This isn’t a lack of information; it is a lack of will. It is that moment when the truth shines on a part of our life — our character, our choices, or the needs of those around us — and we squint. We look away. We close our eyes because we know that if we truly acknowledge what we see, we can no longer remain the same. &quot;Waking up&quot; means recognizing that change is vital.</p><div> </div><p>Lux in Domino: Light in the Lord</p><p>St. Paul says, “Awake, O sleeper!” The path from darkness to light is what he calls being Lux in Domino — Light in the Lord. He doesn&#x27;t say we have a light; he says we are the light.</p><p>Crucially, we do not fast and pray as people waiting for a &quot;dead&quot; Jesus to rise. Lent is not about pretending the Lord isn&#x27;t risen. We are an Easter people living in a world that often chooses death over life. Our &quot;new sight&quot; means looking past the surface of our struggles to see grace already at work.</p><div> </div><div><strong>Going forth brightly</strong></div><p>The rose vestments remind us that the sun is rising. The man born blind represents every one of us who is humble enough to admit to our blindness and decide to see.</p><p>Today, let us wash away the clay of our pride and prejudice. Let us cease to pretend to sleep. Let us go forth from this Mass not just seeing better, but being ourselves the light that helps others find the way.</p><div> </div><div><strong>Reflection questions:</strong></div><p><strong>1. The New Creation: </strong>What is one &quot;old way&quot; of looking at your family, your life, or your work that you are asking Jesus to replace with a New Creation this Lent?</p><p><strong>2. The Pretending Sleeper: </strong>In what area of your life — or the state of our country — are you currently nagbubulag-bulagan? Is there a truth you have been &quot;closing your eyes&quot; to because it feels too difficult to face?</p><p><strong>3. Lux in Domino: </strong>How can you be &quot;the light&quot; this week for someone in darkness — perhaps a family member overwhelmed by pressure or a neighbor struggling with loneliness?</p>

<p>Fr. RB Hizon, SJ explores how the story of the man born blind reminds us that Lent is not only about repentance but about receiving new sight: learning to see beyond appearances, confronting the truths we sometimes avoid, and recognizing the light of Christ already at work in our lives.</p>

Fr. RB Hizon, SJ explores how the story of the man born blind reminds us that Lent is not only about repentance but about receiving new sight: learning to see beyond appearances, confronting the truths we sometimes avoid, and recognizing the light of Christ already at work in our lives.

A Word on the Word: Why we wear pink: the liturgical 'deep breath'

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Lifestyle

A Word on the Word: Why we wear pink: the liturgical 'deep breath'

Fr. Raymund Benedict "RB" Hizon,

SJ

Published March 15, 2026 07:27 AM PHT

Read More:

Fr RB Hizon

Sunday reflection

Bible study

gospel

ABSnews

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.