Monday – 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel – Luke 18:35-43

I Can See Clearly Now…..

Pistachio the Camel, Dead Sea

I am not a fan of all this cold rainy weather we have been experiencing the last couple of weeks.  With all the driving I have been doing, I have had to turn on the heat in our car.  And then I have to re-learn how to clear the windshield as it begins to fog up and I can’t see the road in front of me.  Add to that all the twists and curves of country driving! You know what I mean – trying to drive and fiddling with the buttons to de-frost the windshield at the same time!  Life has suddenly become blurry and unfocused, almost blinding!

Today’s Gospel speaks a lot about sight and blindness.  A blind man calls out to Jesus in words that say “I know you; you are the Messiah.”  In a society where sickness and disease were to be avoided and kept silent, his voice rang out strong and clear!  And despite his human blindness, he is the one who sees clearly because he sees with the eyes of faith!  And the Pharisees, who have no physical illness, are the ones who are really blind!

The Pharisees focus only on the externals – the Law – and not the heart!  But the blind man recognizes Jesus as Prophet, as Lord, and that faith causes him to stand up to the Pharisees and call out to Jesus.

We live in troubling, fearful times. And if we look only with our human eyes, it is difficult to see much that is good or hopeful. But there are plenty of signs of God working in our human condition, moments where the light is beginning to shine bright, moments where there is a promise of unity and healing.  God calls us all, however, to see beyond the distrust and animosity.  He calls us to see with the eyes of faith and hope.  He calls us to see His presence even when life seems cold and unforgiving and then to call out to God is a loud and strong voice – Son of David, have pity on me; help me to see clearly!

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