33 week in ordinary time, Monday, November 20, 2006

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-4; 2:1-5. Psalm 1. Luke 18:35-43.

I know a young student who is now in his third year of college. He has been blind from birth, but has mastered the streets and the paths that lead to his college and often refuses any help. He is an amazing person with a zest for life that can beat almost anyone on the campus. He is gifted in music and loves to play at the Mass. Often by just listening to the few notes of a song, he can continue on without losing a beat. He is doing well in his studies and moving right along with his classmates toward graduation. It will be a sad day for the college when he leaves and starts his path in ministry and work.

More than anything, I admire the vision of inward faith that he has and uses so well as he witnesses to his faith. He cheers me up when I am down by just my thinking of him. I admire him and am edified and say to myself, "What are you complaining about? Why are you moping around when you could be doing something constructive? I thought of him in reflecting upon today's Gospel. This is the last miracle Jesus will perform and it is the giving of sight to the blind man near Jericho. He hears about Jesus and realizes that Jesus can hear him as he calls out, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity upon me!" This man has the same inner twenty-twenty vision of faith, therefore, he could call out to Jesus and see him better than those who saw him with their eyes. Jesus heals him. Why not? He sees how deep is the vision of faith of this blind man and realizes that if he can see the road ahead, he will become a disciple and follower of Jesus. Jesus says to him,"Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you."

The man who is not named gives glory (thanks) to God and begins to follow Jesus on the way up to Jerusalem. We know that Luke in using this term for following Jesus means that the man follows him as a disciple who will participate in his suffering and death and resurrection. This is what the young man I referred to does each day through his inner vision of faith. I know that when he hears this Gospel today he will identify with the blind man at Jericho, but probably has even better vision to see and know who Jesus is. Jesus does not heal his physical blindness, but that does not matter, his inner vision is perfect. Jesus develops it more and more each day. Amen.