HE SAVES US AND MAKES US WHOLE
Jesus showed that acting was more important than talking. It is Jesus that saves us and makes us whole!
Today we begin
reading from the First Book of Maccabees. Basically it tells the story of an
attempt to suppress the Jewish religion in Palestine in the second century
before Jesus. Today's reading records the beginning of the persecution
"when terrible affliction was upon Israel." Resistance to the
persecution was vigorous and heroic, and the result was that at least for a
time, the people gained religious and political freedom.
Persecution and
oppression were not new to the Jews. They had experienced it in Egypt and later
in Babylon during their exile there. Nor is such treatment unknown to the
church both in the past and even now in certain countries. Motives for such persecutions
are varied and sometimes unexplainable. We can say that sometimes certain
blindness comes over those in power, but unlike the blind man in the Gospel
they seem to have no wish to see clearly the meaning and purpose of religion.
The truth is that
we ourselves even run the danger of being persecuted for our religion at times.
We may not be imprisoned for practicing our faith, but we could lose our
jobs/or careers; or not be popular because of our faith.
Today's Gospel we
hear about a blind man who asked Jesus, After Jesus said to him, "What do
you want me to do for you?" Lord, let me see. Even before the blind man's
eyesight is restored, he sees clearly. He sees Jesus as "Son of
David."
The blind man was
determined to get Jesus' attention and he was persistent in the face of
opposition.
Points to Pray and Ponder: Jesus showed that acting was more important than
talking. It is Jesus that saves us and
makes us whole! Are we persistent in the face of opposition?