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Seeing with Faith

U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

November 17, 2014. Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious

By Father John Doyle, LC

Luke 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.

Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the Alpha and the Omega. You have given me life and offer me eternal life with you. You deserve my honor, gratitude and love, and yet you never impose yourself upon me. Thank you for respecting my freedom so that I can offer myself to you. All that I have is yours; I return it to you.

Petition: Lord, grant me greater faith in your constant and continual presence in my life.

1. Begging by the Roadside: How many times in life have we felt like this blind beggar sitting by the roadside, down-and-out and hard on luck – physically, spiritually or emotionally? Witnessing our distress, some people simply walked by without a care. Maybe they tossed us a coin, though they didn’t really help us out of our discouragement or difficulty. Others might have jeered at us or not dared to look at us. Some may even have scolded us, like the people in the Gospel telling the beggar “to be silent.” Just as the blind beggar of today’s Gospel could not give himself what he most desired – sight, we are unable to give ourselves what we most need – faith. Do I regularly ask for an increase of faith? Am I aware of how much I need a strong faith?

2. Jesus Is Passing By: The book of Job tells us that “human beings have a hard service on earth” (Job 7:1). It shouldn’t be surprising, then, when in our lives as Christians we take some real blows and even some falls. God doesn’t want us to become discouraged. He wants us to see these as opportunities to turn to him, the source of the strength and help we need. Other voices will tell us to be quiet and not bother the Master: “After all, you just need to work things out”, “With so much going on, how can you find time to pray?” Jesus constantly passes by. He is the only one who can bring me the peace my heart desires and longs for. “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”

3. Lord, Please Let Me See: Jesus promises us that he will listen to our request, just as he did to the blind man. But what should our request be? To have a more comfortable stool so as to sit by the road and beg with ease? To have a beautiful silver cup to collect coins in? Or to see? Often what we really need is not what we ask for in prayer. We need the vision that only the supernatural virtue of faith can give. We need the ability to see everything from God’s vantage point and to see how the difficulties and trials we experience are part of a bigger picture. We need to have the firm assurance of the final victory of the Lamb, Jesus, and the strength to persevere in fidelity. Lord, please let me see…. Please increase my faith.

Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, allow me to praise and glorify you for your constant companionship and for never leaving me alone in my struggles and trials. Increase my faith so that I will be able to experience your love even amidst difficulty and trials.

Resolution: I will pray three “Our Fathers” for an increase of faith among my family members.

Homily of the Day

November 17, 2014

Here is a man who is blind, but nevertheless must have heard about Jesus and the wonderful things he has done for people in town. He must have been wishing to come near him, and he must have been praying for a cure. He is also described as sitting by the road, begging – he must have been abandoned by his family. He hears the crowd passing by and inquired what it is all about. “Jesus of Nazareth is going by” they say. He knows the Lord because spontaneously he cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

We too have our own blindness. We are blind many times to our faults and sins, to our weaknesses and limitations. Blind because we cannot accept them, we keep denying or covering them up many times. Let us imitate this blind man in our gospel today. The Lord is passing by. Let’s cry out loud to him and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” In the depths of our hearts let us hear the Lord say ” Your faith has saved you, I love you and I forgive you!”

Yes, the Lord is passing by, but we have to do our part. Often we are beggars, yet we do not consider what we are asking for. We have received many blessings yet these we take for granted as if the Lord ought to give us these, as if we deserve them.

Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!”