Daily Reflection Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

We cannot imbibe the full meaning of the flood and the plight of the blind man unless we exercise the virtue of patience. In our first reading, we note how much time passes before the flood waters begin to recede. We, too, need time when we are flooded with worries about our families, our church, our nation, our brothers and sisters around the world. We also need time in deepening our relationship with God.  Noah holds steadfast during the flood. He is not lazy; he does something. He builds the ark for the people and the animals. He cares for them. He is patient and discerning before allowing everyone to leave the ark. The psalmist prays, “My vows to the Lord I will pray in the presence of all his people.”

 

    In our gospel reading, Jesus is not faced with flood waters. He is living in a world where sick people are treated like pariahs. Because the populace does not understand nor possess medical knowledge, sick people are condemned to a life of loneliness. Not just in Jesus’ time, but also throughout human history we have people suffering from leprosy, epilepsy, polio, AIDS, those on the emotional spectrum, to name a few, that the general population does not comprehend and even avoids. Jesus understands this fear and how it hurts. So, he takes the blind man by the hand and leads him away from the crowd. What a delicate way to shield the man from embarrassment! We also notice that Jesus is deliberate in his actions. The healing is not so important to Jesus as much as the person. 

 

    Scripture scholar, Jose Pagola, tells us that sickness and marginalization are closely linked. The healing is not complete until the sick are integrated into society. By curing people, Jesus eliminates the barriers that keep individuals from the general community.  Is not our daily prayer to be inclusive, to accept all in the same way that Jesus does?

 

O God, who out of nothing brought everything that is,

out of what I am bring more of what I dream

but haven’t dared;

direct my power and passion

to creating life where there is death,

to putting action on bare-boned intentions,

to lighting fires against the midnight of indifference,

to throwing bridges of care across canyons of loneliness;

so I can look on creation, together with you,

and, behold, and call it very good; through Jesus Christ my Lord.

                                                                       -- Guerrillas of Grace by Ted Loder