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.

Homilette for Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 8:6-13.202-22; Mark 8:22-26)

“I see,” said the blind man. He is only being ironic. He does not claim to have sight as we usually think of it. But he may have insight – the ability to see the truth of things. Insight is the kind of vision which the blind man of today’s gospel ends with.

Jesus first gives the blind man physical sight to distinguish shapes and colors. But he is challenged to discern the nature of things. People to him are walking trees. Then Jesus tries again, and the man sees clearly. Most of all, his newly gained sight enables him to recognize Jesus as the long awaited one of Israel who is to bring shalom, the fullness of peace, to the land.

In the contemporary world thoroughly given to the awe of science and technology, we are challenged to identify Jesus. We may claim him as our “Lord and God,” but what do these terms mean if we spend our lives in pursuit of fortune or adventure? Mark’s gospel calls us to unrelenting recognition of Jesus as the source, end, and sustaining force of our lives.