26 September 2012 ‘I believe, Lord.’ The great miracle Jesus wrought on the blind man exasperated the Pharisees beyond measure. They were determined to damage his reputation, either by questioning the truth of the miracle, or by charging him with breaking the law by doing it on the sabbath. They had the blind man and his parents brought before the council. The latter declared he is their son, and that he was born blind. The man in turn declared again it was Jesus who had spread clay on his eyes and told him to wash, which he did; and was cured. Unable to reject the fact, they tried to deny Jesus the sign of his divinity. “This man is not of God”, they said, “for he does not observe the sabbath” (Jn 9:16). He must, then, be an agent of the devil. They tried in every way to make the man think so, but to no avail. He said -- “Never since the world began, has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of one born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” (Jn 9:32-3) Ashamed and angry at seeing themselves refuted by an ignorant beggar; and having no arguments against him, they said, “You were wholly born in sins, and you teach us? And they drove him out.” (Jn 9:34) It is for our instruction and consolation that the Holy Spirit caused these details to be recorded. Thus, let us understand better, and hate more, the base passion of envy. What did it do for the Pharisees? Dishonor! If we are the object of envy, fear not. As long as truth and virtue are on our side, it will do us more good than harm. Everything our Lord’s envious enemies did against him enhanced the truth of this miracle; thus, of his divinity. “All things work together for good to those who love God.” (Rom 8:28) What is more consoling? The man’s courage in glorifying Jesus before the council was aptly rewarded. “Jesus heard that they had driven him out. When Jesus found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered, ‘Who is he, sir? Tell me so I may believe in him.’ Jesus replied, ‘You have seen him; he talks to you’. He said, ‘Lord, I believe’. Falling down, he adored him.” (cf Jn 9:35-8) Thus was sight given to his soul and body. Tradition is, he followed Jesus; one of the seventy-two disciples. The companion in exile of Lazarus, they miraculously landed on the coast of France, successfully labored as an apostle. He died at ‘Aix en Provence’. Let us thank our Lord with all our heart for having opened our eyes and revealed himself to us in a special way. Making us understand his counsels. That we may know more of his divine perfections, love him more and try to show our love by making others know and love him as much as we can. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp607-9 The Obedience of Faith 144 To obey (from the Latin ‘ob-audire’, to “hear or listen to”) in faith is to submit freely to the word that has been heard, because its truth is guaranteed by God, who is Truth itself. Abraham is the model of such obedience offered us by Sacred Scripture. The Virgin Mary, its most perfect embodiment. 145 The “Letter to the Hebrews” ... emphasizes Abraham’s faith: “By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go.” (Heb 11:8; cf Gen 12:1-4) By faith, he lived as a stranger and pilgrim in the promised land. (cf Gen 23:4) By faith, Sarah was given to conceive the son of the promise. And by faith Abraham offered his only son in sacrifice. (cf Heb 11:17) 146 Abraham fulfills the definition of faith in “Hebrews 11:1”: “... the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen; Abraham believed God, reckoned to him as righteousness (Rom 4:3; cf Gen 15:6). ... “strong in his faith”, Abraham became the “father of all who believe.” (Rom 4:11,18;4:20; cf Gen 15:5) 148 The Virgin Mary most perfectly embodies the obedience of faith. By faith Mary welcomes the tidings and promise brought by the angel Gabriel, believing that “with God nothing will be impossible” and so giving her assent: “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:37-8; cf Gen 18:14) Elizabeth greeted her: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Lk 1:45) It is for this faith that all generations have called Mary blessed. (cf Lk 1:48) 149 Throughout her life and until her last ordeal (cf Lk 2:35) when Jesus her Son died on the cross, Mary’s faith never wavered. She never ceased to believe in the fulfilment of God’s word. And so the Church venerates in Mary the purest realization of faith. 150 Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man to God. At the same time, and inseparably, it is a ‘free assent to the whole truth God has revealed’. ... Ref: “Catechism of the Catholic Church”, 1994, pp45-6 God does not ask the impossible It is really Jesus who makes sanctity a reality. However, He wishes to acknowledge our collaboration, which we give by obeying what has been pointed out to us, although it might seem insignificant. This leads to a cheerful ascetical struggle which will never be tiresome. To grow in virtue we must heed and practise what our Lord is saying to us, often through intermediaries. “What a sublime example of this docility is given to all of us by the Most Holy Virgin, Mary of Nazareth. She pronounced her fiat of total availability to God’s design, and the Spirit began in her the realization of the plan of salvation.” (John Paul II, “Address”, 30 May 1981) Our Lord wants us to truly desire to be saints realised in specific deeds. We ask our Mother Mary to help us become ever more docile to the Holy Spirit, growing in virtue by striving to attain the little goals of each day. Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 4:575-7; 580 • Our Lady of Victory, at Tournay. The inhabitants carried the keys of the city into the church of Our Lady, in the year 1340, because they knew that the Queen of heaven alone was able to deliver them from the English, who had besieged them for forty days; they had no sooner testified this confidence in the Blessed Virgin, than the siege was raised, when the inhabitants had hardly provisions left for three days. — Archives of Tournay. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of Victory at Tournay (1340). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html) (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady of Victory. Tournay, France 1340. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of Victory. Tournay / Tourney, France. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)