We've reached Day 29 of our Lenten journey, and today we dive deep into the concept of purity of heart through the Gospel story of Jesus healing the blind man. This blindness represents humanity's spiritual blindness since the Fall—a condition Christ came to heal through his incarnation, symbolized by the clay spread on the blind man's eyes.

The mystical Pool of Siloe, where the man washes, represents baptism, opening our spiritual eyes to faith. But maintaining this spiritual sight requires vigilant protection of our purity. Four powerful resolutions guide this protection: fleeing harmful influences while seeking virtuous companions, thinking more frequently of God throughout our day, closing our eyes to what offends God, and opening them to opportunities for good.

American Catholicism has historically embraced a "go along to get along" approach—understandable given the prejudice Catholics once faced but problematic in today's aggressively secular culture. The uncomfortable truth is that faithful Catholics today must be prepared to lose relationships, even with family members, to maintain their faith. Yet there are encouraging signs of revival, particularly among young Catholics who are standing firm against cultural tides with unprecedented courage.

This reflection challenges us to consider whether we're truly living as disciples willing to walk the opposite way of the world. God has ordained us to live in this particular historical moment for a purpose. Will we protect our faith at any cost, recognizing that our spiritual sight depends on purity of heart?

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