Word to the Wise
Wednesday, February 19, 2014 - Wednesday in the 6th Week in Ordinary Time
[Jas 1:19-27 and Mark 8:22-26]When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida, people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
Teachers know the experience of students who just don't "get it" even after special tutoring! This can be a frustrating thing to both the teacher and the student. If one goes back to yesterday's gospel scripture (vv.14-21), one would find Jesus berating the disciples for their inability to "get it," even after he has twice multiplied loaves and fishes. All they can "see" is a fancy bit of wonder-working without any notion that Jesus might be more than that! "Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?"
In this context, the interesting encounter between Jesus and the blind man in today's gospel takes on more meaning than simply a stubborn case of illness! It takes two treatments to the man to get the blindness to respond. [I don't think my ophthalmologist would recommend the particular treatment of "spit in the eye!"] The "blindness" of the disciples will require some dramatic treatment. Shortly after this, Jesus will begin to predict his suffering and death, which will ultimately "open the eyes" of the disciples - and of generations to come - as to Jesus' identity - to "get it!"
Lest we be too harsh on the disciples and others, I know of many who have come to faith only by a long and difficult series of steps and setbacks. In my efforts on their behalf, I experienced my own frustration, but patience and continual "treatment" with the Lord's help would often result in the "I get it!" moment. If the Lord could keep at it, so can we! AMEN