30th Sunday, October 25 2009- Master, Let me see again
One day, a blind man and his dog are walking down a street; they come to a busy intersection, and the dog, ignoring the high volume of traffic zooming by on the street, leads the blind man out into the thick of traffic. This is followed by the screech of tires and horns blaring as panicked drivers try desperately not to run the pair down.
The blind man and his dog finally reach the safety of the sidewalk on the other side of the street, and the blind man pulls a cookie out of his coat pocket, and offers it to the dog.
A passerby, having observed the near fatal incident, can't control his amazement and says to the blind man, "Why on earth are you rewarding your dog with a cookie? He nearly got you killed!" The blind man replies to him, "To find out where his head is, so I can give a kick on his ass." The blind man has a desire to teach the dog a lesson.
We see in today’s gospel another story of a blind man crying for help and thirsting for receiving sight.
It is actually the last miracle story recorded in Mark. It comes at the end of a long section where Jesus is forming his disciples. Jesus was already instructing them on the nature of the discipleship and his own identity. Throughout these narratives the disciples appear to be blind to who Jesus really was and what it means to accept the demands he makes of them.
Jesus indeed points out to the necessary abilities of the Christian disciple: to hear and understand the Word of God and to share the message with others. There is the two-stage healing of a blind man. This story clearly indicates the gradual opening of the disciples’ eyes as to the true identity and mission of Jesus. And the whole section ends with the healing of the blind man which is not merely coincidence. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. This has great significance for the miracle story to follow.
This miracle speaks of the discipleship and the meaning of spiritual blindness that was present in the disciples and the followers of Jesus. Let us look at the miracle story once more.
1. Story of Barthemeus Mk 10 / 46-52
a. detailed information
b. Very active role
c. Discipleship story
2. Look at what happens to Barthemeus before and after meeting Jesus
Before encountering Jesus -- After encountering Jesus
a. He was blind ------ He received sight
b. He was sitting ------ He followed Jesus
C. By the roadside ------- On the road
d. He was a beggar ------ He is a disciple
3. Today we have heard the persistent cry of the blind man of Jericho who said to Jesus, “My Teacher, let me see again.” This episode is a summary of the Christian’s life and pilgrimage. We need to examine what sort of blindness do I have? There are five types of blindness can affect us.
a. Physical Blindness- Caused by short sight, long sight or head ache or any other reason. There is a solution to this that one needs to wear the glasses or the spectacles or take medicine. This is not a big issue.
b. Social Blindness: To Put on blindness in our perception of others. Due to biases or prejudices we have distorted the images of others – we cannot see their good points – we exaggerate their faults, we generalise, brand, label, despise, discriminate – we make rash judgements, false assumptions, class prejudice, caste, ethnic groups, regional, linguistic groups, sectarian tendencies, cliques and clans.
c. Psychological blindness: Wrong perception of ourselves, poor self image, wrong ideas about our qualities – inferiority complexes, we despise ourselves- we do not like ourselves – feeling of guilt, insecurity, anxieties – or we have an inflated idea of ourselves.
d. Moral blindness: Blind to moral values – to good and evil, to our virtues and vices, bad habits and inclinations, to our besetting sins, and wrong attachments, rationalising evil actions, injustice towards others, vindictiveness, exploitative capacities, egotism, lack of sense of sin – scruples, presumptions.
e. Spiritual bilndness: In our perception of God. In our relationships with him in prayer--- to his goodness and love, fear of God, lack of faith and trust in him, superstitions, lax conscience, unconfessed resentments against God, neglect of prayer life.
Let us pray that today’s Word of God will touch the heart of those who have been spiritually blind so they will find the strength in Christ to walk away from what destroys the faith. Let us also pray this week for the grace of God to shine on those in need so their eyes may be opened and remain opened to faith and love of Jesus the master, let me see again.
