Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” – Matthew 9:28

       Why did Jesus have to ask this question? Why didn’t He just go about healing the two blind men? He probably wanted to see if the two had faith — a living faith founded on trust. We may say that we believe that Jesus can do this and that for us, but do we act on that belief? Do we trust that He will deliver? Believing does not automatically mean trusting. Think about it.

       Jesus told St. Maria Faustina in different occasions (as recorded in her diary of her soul’s encounter with Jesus as the Divine Mercy): “The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is — trust. Tell them that no soul that has called upon My mercy has been disappointed or brought to shame. I delight particularly in a soul which has placed its trust in My goodness.” Jesus also mentioned that “sins of distrust wound Me most painfully.”

       The two blind men cried, “Son of David, have pity on us!” We too can cry out to Jesus and ask for His mercy, which He freely gives to those who ask Him with complete trust. Judith Concepcion (svp_jmc@yahoo.com)

Reflection: How much do you trust God? Do you let God be God?

Lord, have mercy on me. “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

If there are enough Christians who act upon their beliefs then the world will know without doubt that Jesus is the Lord of all. As the scientists would say, “A critical mass has been reached.” One of the biggest scandals facing Christianity is the lukewarm nature of many of those who profess to be Christians. How can we change this? None of us can control what another chooses. All we can do is act upon our own faith and do what God asks us to do, and pray that others will do the same.

17 Thus says the Lord God: But a very little while, and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard, and the orchard be regarded as a forest! 18 On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; and out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. 19 The lowly will ever find joy in the Lord, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. 20 For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone; all who are alert to do evil will be cut off, 21 those whose mere word condemns a man, who ensnare his defender at the gate, and leave the just man with an empty claim. 22 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of the house of Jacob, who redeemed Abraham. Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of, nor shall his face grow pale. 23 When his children see the work of my hands in his midst, they shall keep my name holy; they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob, and be in awe of the God of Israel. 24 Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding, and those who find fault shall receive instruction.

R: The Lord is my light and my salvation.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (R) 4 One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek, to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and contemplate his  temple. (R) 13 I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord. (R)

Having been healed by Jesus, the men were compelled to share their experience with others. This is the nature of the Gospel — something made very evident here by Matthew as he has them disobeying the command of Jesus to remain silent about their healings. Put yourself in the shoes of the healed men. Would you remain silent? I doubt it! I would be shouting about Jesus and what He has done for me from the rooftops!

Behold, our Lord shall come with power; he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.

27 As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” 30 And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

think:  Let us act upon our own faith and do what God asks us to do, and pray that others will do the same.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Ezekiel 37-40

TO FEAR OR NOT TO FEAR

Last year, a futuristic movie entitled After Earth hit the theaters. The plot of the story is not significant to our story, but I would just like to highlight the trait of the character played by Will Smith. He is a fearless warrior who has totally mastered the art of conquering fear. In one moving scene where he was encouraging his son (through sophisticated communication gadgets), who was left alone in the jungle amidst impending danger, he said, “Danger is real, but fear is a choice.”

         Today, Jesus heals two blind men. To be blind is to live in darkness, in severe fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of the unseen. In the time of Jesus, sickness was considered as a direct consequence of sin. The gravity of one’s malady was seen in direct proportion to the gravity of one’s sins. So, more than their disability, the blind men in the Gospel had to battle the alienation and isolation brought about by social prejudice. But the two blind men desperately approached Jesus and conquered their fear even as they were

         As we have said, fear has two meanings:

         The two blind men discovered the latter and so they were no longer blind but witnesses.

         On that day, the deaf shall hear the words of a scroll, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you afraid to manifest and share your faith with others?

Lord, give me the strength to “Face Everything And Rise.”