DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Friday, June 22, 2018

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had washed the man’s eyes, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.  – Mark 8:22-25

What is unexpected in this account of Christ healing a blind man is that it takes more than one attempt for the man’s vision to fully return.  And as is usually the case with scripture, often the unexpected details bear the weight of the significance of the teaching moment.  The first touch of Christ enables the once blind man to see, but not clearly.  It is the second touch that brings clarity to the man’s vision.

When I listen to some Christian voices I discern blind men who has received that first touch of healing.  But they ask for no more of Christ, thinking that there is no need for more.  They think they see, but they still do not see clearly.

“To see people walking about as trees”, to see people in vague generalities, to see people as indistinct souls, to see people in a prejudicial blur caused by the dust in one’s own eyes.  This is so often why certain Christian souls seem not to be behold people and circumstances through the clear vision of Christ.

I have learned in life, probably too late in life, that I must keep returning to Christ so that He might provide yet another touch of bringing purer clarity to my vision.  And as the Lord washes my eyes over and over, I see all the clearer.

Loved Ones, the Christian disciple is always in need of yet another touch of healing.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz