Before leaving Jerusalem, Jesus wished to give his enemies, though still unworthy, another proof of his divinity: a striking and irresistible proof which everyone should hear and then bring before the synagogue.
“Jesus saw a man who was blind from his birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; but that the works of God might be revealed in him’.” (Jn 9:1-3)
Our Lord in his answer, and the Apostles in their question, speak only with reference to the blindness. They had doubtless committed sin; for ‘there is no just man upon earth that does good and sins not’. But the blindness was not sent as a punishment for any sin.
Suffering in this world is not ‘always’ consequent to actual sin. Afflictions may not be chastisements but trials which God permits to fall upon even the greatest saints, for his own glory, and to increase their merits. So it was in the case of Job, of Tobias, of many other saints, both in the Old and New Testaments.
Therefore, we should never lose our confidence or get discouraged when the hand of God is upon us. We should rather rejoice as St James distinctly tells us. (cf Jas 1:12) Again, in speaking of the misfortunes of the wicked, we should not always conclude as signs of God’s displeasure. The same might be said of us.
“Jesus spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, spread the mud on the man’s eyes, and told him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloe’ (meaning ‘Sent’). He went and washed; and came back able to see.” (Jn 9:6-7)
We hardly know which to admire most, the trial to which the blind man’s faith and obedience was subjected, or the readiness with which he did what he was told, without objecting, as he might have naturally done.
Let this story confirm our faith, teach us to leave ourselves entirely in the hands of God, and to render him a ‘blind’ obedience. We see here at once both merit and reward. What further encouragement do we need?
Everyone knows the blind man, a beggar. Naturally his cure is well-known. “The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, ask, ‘Is this not he who begged?’ Some said, ‘It is he’. Others said, ‘No, it is someone like him’. But he said, ‘I am the man’. They therefore, asked, ‘How were your eyes opened?’ He replied, ‘The man called Jesus made mud, anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloe and wash’. I went, I washed and I received my sight.’” (cf Jn 9:8-12)
The blind man attributed his cure directly to Jesus. Following this example, let us believe and openly profess our belief. We owe to God alone all physical and spiritual good we do. This is the best way to avoid vainglory and obtain fresh favors from God.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp605-7
In Christ’s Boat
After preaching from Peter’s boat, Jesus tells the fisherman, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch!” (Lk 5:4) Trusting in Christ’s word, they obey and haul in a wonderful catch.
Turning to Peter who, like James and John, cannot hide his astonishment, the Lord explains, “‘Fear not; henceforth you shall be fishers of men’. And having brought their boats to land, leaving all things, they followed him.” (Lk 5:10-11)
Your boat (talents, hopes, achievements) is worth nothing whatsoever, unless you leave it in Christ’s hands, allowing him freedom to come aboard. Make sure you don’t turn it into an idol. In your boat, if you try to be by yourself without the Master, you are, supernaturally speaking, making straight for shipwreck.
Only if you allow and seek his presence and captaincy, will you be safe from the storms and setbacks of life. Place everything in God’s hands. Let your thoughts, the brave adventures you have imagined, your lofty human ambitions, your noble loves, pass through the heart of Christ. Otherwise, sooner or later, they will all sink to the bottom together with your selfishness.
Let us ask our Lady to intercede for us: let us live by faith; persevere with hope; remain very close to Jesus; really, really love him; live out and enjoy our adventure of love, for we are in love, in love with God; allow Christ to come aboard our poor boat, and take possession of our souls as Lord and Master; show him sincerely that we are going to try to live in his presence always, day and night, for he has called us to the faith.
Ref: cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 1981, 21, 22
Obedience in closely following Christ
The primary reason why obedience is so essential for the disciple of Christ is its being part of the mystery of Redemption: “Christ revealed to us his mystery; by his obedience he brought about our redemption.” (Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 3)
And so, anyone who wishes to follow the Master’s footsteps cannot place any limits to his obedience. Jesus taught us to obey in easy things and in heroic things, because “He obeyed in things which were very weighty and difficult: unto death on the Cross” (St Thomas, Commentary on Hebrews, 5, 8, 2).
Obedience makes us want to identify our will in everything with the Will of God. This Will is manifested through our parents, superiors and normal duties of family, social and professional life. In a special way, God’s Will for our soul is revealed in spiritual direction.
God expects of us, therefore, an upright conduct, which is characterized at every moment by the refined and cheerful manner in which we are subject, for his sake, to all forms of lawful authority, and in the first place to the Roman Pontiff and the Church’s Magisterium.
Our Mother the Virgin Mary, ‘Stella Maris’, Star of the Sea, will teach us to be generous with God when he wants us to give him our entire life. We shouldn’t set any condition in order to follow him.
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 4:540; 542
Our Lady of Passer, at Rodez. This image having been often removed from the place where it was, to another place, was always found again at its old post, which made it necessary to build a church there. — Triple Couronne, n. 53. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Passer. Rhodes, Greece. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm);(maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Madonna, the Divine Shepherdess. Spain. 1703. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
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