Monday, November 17, 2014



Mmemorial of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, religious

(Revelation 1:1-4.2:1-5; Luke 18:35-43)

It is one thing to see, but quite another to see with insight.  A sophomore can look at human tissue through a microscope, but a biologist names the different kinds of cells she sees.  A fifth-grader can read a racing form, but a handicapper will find the probable winners.  What is more important than seeing is having insight.

In the gospel today Jesus enables a blind man to see, and the man sees more in Jesus than a healer.  With insight he recognizes him as the “Son of David,” the Messiah who was to bring about everlasting justice.  He does not go away reveling with his newly-gained physical sight.  Rather he follows Jesus to death and glory in Jerusalem.

 Faith is having insight beyond what one’s eyes see.  We see bread and wine on the altar, but insight tells us that it is the body and blood of Christ.  We see a beggar holding a sign asking for money on a street corner, but insight informs us that it is an image of God.  We see ourselves struggling to believe after hearing about scandal in the Church.  Insight tells us that the humanity of the Church will always be attracted by evil, but still its virtue far outdoes its faults.