The Eye: More than Just Vision

By Fr Ralph de Hahn – In Mathew’s Gospel (6:22-23), Jesus teaches that the eye is the lamp of the body: “If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness” — and what a terrible darkness! 

It is often said that the eye is the mirror of the soul, suggesting that one’s eyes can reflect or reveal the inner emotions, thoughts or even the character of a person, giving insight into their true nature or intentions.

Scientists tell us that the eye is the most precious organ of the human body, composed of nearly 2000 incredibly complex parts, including millions of light-sensitive rods and cones. It is a remarkably resilient organ that can immediately adjust to different conditions and environments. The muscles that move the eye are, in fact, the fastest and strongest in the body.

It is not surprising that Charles Darwin acknowledged that the eye’s intricate structure posed a significant challenge to his theory of evolution and natural selection.

The eye must be God’s very special creation, offering far more than just vision. Surely, all life would be so much darker without this sensitive organ.

What did Mary see?

When we apply these truths to the Gospels, we discover a wonderful source for reflection and meditation.

That first Christmas night in Bethlehem, what did the eyes of Mary behold as she looked at the child that was born of her? Did she not see heaven in her arms? At Calvary, did her eyes not speak to her broken heart of some undefinable love nailed to a cross of shame? Did her heart recall the prophecy of the aged Simeon in the Temple, who foretold this sign of contradiction and rejection?

How her eyes opened to the revelation of her son’s declaration: “The Spirit of the Lord has anointed me,” made in the synagogue in Nazareth in response to Psalm 61.

What about the eyes of Jesus in his perfect humanity? How he penetrated the heart of the blind beggar Bartimaeus, and loved him and healed him (Mark 10:46-52)! Consider how the eyes of that beggar, now seeing light for the first time, beheld the face of the Son of God.

Saviour and disciple

At the marriage feast at Cana, Mary intervened to save the bridal couple from their profound catering humiliation. “Do whatever he tells you,” she instructed the stewards, and Jesus fully understood his mother’s consent and read his destiny in her eyes.

Later, as Jesus struggled with the heavy cross to Calvary and fell repeatedly, a young woman came beside him on the road, wiped his bleeding face with a damp towel, and cleared his eyes. His eyes beheld a disciple; her eyes beheld a saviour!

One can continue to explore the eyes of many other biblical characters in fruitful meditation: Pontius Pilate as he beholds the man he has just condemned; the Peter of denials, the Pharisees, Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, Gamaliel, the Canaanite woman seeking scraps, and of course, St Joseph.

All this, I hope, will speak to you of the wonder of the eye and the exquisite, unspeakable wonders behind the name of God.

Published in the January 2025 issue of The Southern Cross magazine