HE SAVES US AND MAKES US WHOLE
"Jesus asked him, 'What do you want Me to do for you?'
He replied, 'Lord, let me see'" (Lk 18:40b-41).
We can say there's a
certain kind of blindness that 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 run the danger of being blind
to the fact that we are being persecuted and opposed because of our religious
beliefs. We will not be imprisoned for practicing our Faith, but we could lose
our jobs or careers, or perhaps not be as popular as we would like to be as a
result of our Faith. For example, a judge standing up to keep the Ten
Commandments in their place in front of a government building. He will be
persecuted.
Most likely, we will
probably never have to face martyrdom but still, some have. We can look at the
young victim of a high-school shooting who was asked, "Do you still
believe in God?" After her confirmed response, "Yes," she was
killed. For the most part, though, we might see opposition in more subtle ways
which, therefore, can be more dangerous for us if we truly don't see. Our
society has many values that are the exact opposite of the teachings of Jesus.
These so called "values" can influence us and have just as much force
as a sword or gun to turn us away from our Faith.
In today's Gospel we
hear about a blind man's request. "Jesus asked him, 'What do you want Me
to do for you?' He replied, 'Lord, let me see'" (Lk 18:40b-41). Even
before the blind man's eyesight is restored he "sees" clearly,
spiritually and with great faith. He sees Jesus as "Son of David." He
knew that Jesus was the Messiah people longed to see coming from the house of
the line of David. The blind man sees this in Jesus; his faith has given this
vision, this trust that Jesus can restore him. This man was tried in the same
way that our society can test us.
The blind man was
determined to get Jesus' attention and he was persistent in the face of
opposition. Jesus showed that acting was more important than talking. This man
was in desperate need and Jesus was ready, not only to empathize with his
suffering, but to relieve it as well.
It is Jesus who saves
us and makes us whole!