A legitimate disobedience

Good morning, happy Friday, and many blessings.

Once again, today’s Gospel (Matthew 9:27-31) places before us the encounter of Jesus with human misery. Jesus does not withdraw. He does not hide. He accepts others and in accepting them, full of tenderness, He reveals God’s love. Two blind men follow Jesus and cry out to Him, “Son of David, have pity on us!”. Jesus did not much like the title of Son of David.  He criticizes the teaching of the scribes who said that the Messiah should be the Son of David: “David himself calls Him Lord: How then can He be his son?” (Mark 12:37).

The start of this encounter is in public. There are crowds round Jesus, and the blind men are caught up in the general emotion. They shout at Jesus using a formal title, ‘Son of David,’ as though he was a powerful messianic figure dispensing health to crowds. Jesus waits until he is in the house, where he can meet the blind men in person, and question their faith. I give thanks to God for those times when my eyes have been opened and ask God to lead me to appreciate truth.

The blind men remind me of the need to be persistent in my prayer. Is what I ask God for now in my mind during the day? Do I look with expectation and hope to see how God is answering me? If I don't, what might my lack of perseverance say? Do I have in my life some Good News from God to share with others? On which point do I insist more: on correct doctrine or on correct faith?

And the reason for their persistence is because they knew - with unshakable confidence - that because of who He is, He could heal them of their blindness! When He asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?", they answered in a strong affirmative: "Yes, Lord."

I want to remind you that Advent is not just a time to seek God; it can also be a time to clear things that distract or blind us from God. Things or people that keep me blind and I cannot see the reality that is in front of me. Sometimes, if we just open ourselves to new experiences in our lives, if we open up ourselves to new possibilities in which God can work in us, then we will be surprised as to how God can work his miracles in us.

I would like you to seriously think about these questions: Why did Jesus warn them to keep quiet? And how does perfect faith suddenly turn to disobedience…and is it really disobedience if you’re telling others what Jesus did for you?

Blessings,

Fr. Luis+