Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. – Mark 8:25

I had an officemate whom I considered to be difficult to deal with.

       Every day he complained about the shifting schedules, his salary, the crowded MRT, and his work load. His attitude irritated a lot of my officemates.

       I had the opportunity to have a series of lunches with him. I got to know his job experiences and his family. Then he opened up about why he’s always irritated. His newborn baby was sick. Every time he left home, his heart cried out.

       After hearing his story, there was a strong urge in my heart to pray for him. I asked him a question that I thought might turn him off since he’s not religious at all. But I gave it a try.

       He looked at me and said, “Yes, please!” We prayed for healing, financial providence and peace.

       After that encounter, we became close friends, and he began to change each day for the better. Jan Carlo Silan (jan@makatifeast.com)

Reflection: Have you tried praying for the intentions of other people?

Lord, send me to people who need You this very moment. Let me help them by lifting up their concerns to You. Amen.

St. Conrad of Piacenza, pray for us.

Anger is something that is rarely helpful. In fact, it is far more likely to cause problems than help a situation. Anger tends to foster irrationality — passion takes over and proper understanding comes second place to the calm and rational discussion of the dispute at hand. Let us seek to always be in control of our emotions as we will discover that they are far better servants for us.

19 Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 for anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. 22 Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. 24 He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like. 25 But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

2 He who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart 3 and slanders not with his tongue. (R) Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; 4 by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the Lord. (R) 5 Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be disturbed. (R)

Slow and steady wins the race is the message of an age-old saying. Jesus heals the blind man in steps. Is this because this is what Jesus wants to do or because the faith of the one being healed can only gradually accept the miracle being performed? I believe Jesus is teaching us an important principle of His Kingdom — namely, that success is not always immediate. More often than not, we will have to journey to our goal step by step, and not leap there in one go.

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to his call.

22 When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida, people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on him and asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 Looking up the man replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.” 25 Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly. 26 Then he sent him home and said, “Do not even go into the village.”

think: Let us always be in control of our emotions as we will discover that they are far better servants for us.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Philippians 1-4

Ma. Fatima Soriano is the renowned blind girl and kidney transplantee from Kawit, Cavite, whose inspirational albums have won both in the Catholic Mass Media Awards and Awit Awards. Her angelic voice, especially during live performances, can cause the listeners to have goosebumps. She doesn’t see her audience but she sings from the heart. I always tell her that Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD, is her priest father. And I am her priest uncle.

       At a very young age, she suffered both blindness and kidney failure. But it never stopped her in fulfilling her mission of spreading the love of God in her talks, praying over the sick, propagating devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary whom she “consults” in times of uncertainties, and bringing sweet inspirational music to a troubled world.

       Although Fatima cannot see, I’d like to believe that she can actually “see” Jesus and Mama Mary. Her aura speaks for the calm she experiences. Her counsel is likened to an old woman who has learned so much in life. Jesus put spittle on the eyes of the blind man in the Gospel and asked him if he could see anything. He said, “I see people looking like trees walking.” He could not see clearly yet. A second laying of hands made him see clearest. That’s the miracle. And the first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was the face of Jesus. That’s the fruit of the miracle. Every healing experience should lead us to see Jesus more and more in every opportunity to serve, in every person who needs help. A song in the movie Les Miserables has this haunting lyrics sang in an equally haunting tune: “To love another person is to see the face of God.”

       I’m not sure if Fatima will ever be able to see again. But for now, I believe that she’s happy seeing God and Mama Mary and fulfilling her mission for them.

       There are still a lot of blind people in our midst — those indifferent to the troubles of other people and what the less privileged are going through. May they be healed — and finally see the face of Jesus. Fr. Erick Y. Santos, OFS

Lord Jesus, heal me of my blindness that I may see You in others.