THE WORD
Rev 1, 1-4; 2,1-5 / Lk 18,35-43
Now as Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
IN OTHER WORDS
When ills and misfortunes happen, we tend to conclude of God’s absence and abandonment of those who love him. When prayers are unanswered, we almost doubt God’s inability to listen.When life turns wayward, we falsely believe that God has ceased to care. In events that make human life miserable, anyone can become blind to the real presence of God. Despite this spiritual blindness, one can only hope to see again.
In the Gospel, the blind man’s sight was restored, first, by him listening to the Word of God, Jesus, in faith. The blind man did not see but only heard of Jesus and believed. Believing, he called on Jesus and cried out for mercy, even more loudly when people rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
The blind man’s faith was very strong; no external influence could shatter it. With a strong faith and before Jesus, the blind man had the courage to ask for the restoration of his sight. Jesus said to him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” The blind man, still blind before Jesus, believed what he yet was unable to see but only what he had heard. By virtue of such a faith, his sight was restored.
Life’s misfortunes are like heavy clouds that blur our seeing and interpreting situations correctly. Yet behind the dark clouds, God in Jesus Christ manifests his real presence. Like the blind man’s, a strong faith enables restoration of sight to see God. A strong faith pierces through doubt’s darkness, eases the feeling of being abandoned and the false thinking that God no longer listens or cares.
“Faith is to believe in the word of God, what we do not see, and its reward is to see and enjoy what we believe” (St. Augustine of Hippo).
- Fr. Fred Saniel, SVD | DWST, Tagaytay City
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
