The Word God Spells

Mark 8: 22-26
Gn 8:6-13.20-22 / Ps 116

He opened his eyes, his sight was restored, he saw everything clearly.
(Mark 8:25)

Thank You Lord, for making us see
The faith of true lovers are not blind.
The Word of God has set us free,
But the faithless are left behind.

When Jesus and His apostles returned to Bethsaida, some people brought to Him a blind man and entreated Him to touch him. Instead, Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.” (Mk. 8:22-26)

Reflection

Wherever Jesus went, people would request Him to do something for them. In many occasions, it seemed as if they only wanted to see a spectacle, either for their own amusement, or for affirmation that Jesus the Nazarene was indeed a wonder worker that they had been hearing about. Our Lord did not want to be regarded as some kind of a celebrity, and even less as a political leader who could promise victory over the occupying forces of Rome by employing His supernatural powers. He had a far greater mission to accomplish during His short life on earth. Earlier, in another place that they had just left, pharisees had asked Him for a sign, which He refused to give for their hardness of heart. Leaving that place by boat, He rebuked His apostles, also for their lack of faith, worrying about food after Jesus had just demonstrated that He could easily feed thousands from a few pieces of bread and fish. (Mk.8:17-21)

The blind man they brought to Jesus did not show any interest in being healed. In His great love, Jesus healed him anyway, but in a process that showed His apostles the gradual development of their faith. Unlike the other times when He also healed two blind men, Jesus took the trouble to lead this one outside the village, and then healed him in two steps: for the benefit of His apostles, and to show His love for this man in a more personal way.

Our God is a very personal God. He does not want us to treat Him like a spiritual vending machine that dispenses miracles according to the amount of prayers we send. Instead, He wants to lead us to a quiet place where we can personally experience His healing power – not merely on our physical ailments, but especially on our spiritual brokenness. He wants to restore us to our former wholesome relationship with Him. He wants us to see all things clearly, not just “seeing men like trees walking”, but with a divine perspective to see God’s love alive in all men.

Lord, help us to see the more essential things in life that we should be striving to attain: loving relationships, peace of mind for meditating on Your Word, and a forgiving heart. For these are what draw us closer to You. Amen.