Mark 8, 22-26
Jesus heals a blind man in today’s Gospel; however, He has to do it in two stages. The first time, Jesus asks him if he can see, the man says that he sees people, who are walking around looking like trees. The second time, when Jesus asks him if he can see, the man is able to see clearly and is cured.
The Gospel focuses on the blindness of the disciples, especially of Peter. Peter and the disciples are finding it very hard to understand and accept the Cross, which Jesus speaks about. All of us are blind!
During the time of our Lord, the law stated that all persons crucified were considered condemned by God; therefore, Peter, in particular, rebuked Jesus for talking about such a Cross.
We say that we believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, yet, we do not wish to suffer! Jesus is very explicit when He says “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.…Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 9:34, 38)
Wow! Jesus could be addressing us now in the present time, ‘this faithless and sinful generation.’ Just look at the values that the various media encourages.
Are we ashamed of acknowledging that we are Catholics? How many of us won’t even say the grace before meals out in public or wear the ashes all day on Ash Wednesday? These very minor practices of our Faith, which we are ashamed to do, lead to the rejection of major beliefs and precepts of our Church: abortion, divorce, homosexuality, etc.
We must stop and rethink our personal values and beliefs. Are we willing to serve others in the name of Jesus? Are we willing to accept our illnesses and setbacks as our crosses and to offer them up as reparation for our sins?
I pray that we, as a family of Christ, may joyfully carry our crosses so that when we enter into the Father’s glory, the Son of Man will not be ashamed of us. Amen.
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