Do You See Anything?

 
Reading: He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” Mark 8:23.
 
Good morning, happy Wednesday, and many blessings my dear family.
 
Today’s Gospel (Mark 8:22-26) begins with friends of a blind man bringing him to Jesus for healing.  They asked Jesus to touch the man.  Jesus immediately reached out, took the man’s hand, and led him out of the village.  Jesus then spit into his hand and placed his spittle on the blind man’s eyes.  After a time, Jesus asked him: “Can you see anything”?  The man opened his eyes and said: “I can see people; however, they look like trees”.  Jesus once again placed his hands on the man’s eyes and this time the man’s eyes were healed, and his sight was completely restored!  Jesus then told the man to go home.  Then Jesus admonished the man: “Do not go into the village.”
 
What is the meaning behind Jesus healing the blind man? The disciples asked if the man was blind because he had sinned or because his parents had sinned. John 9:1–2. The Savior said that neither the parents nor the man had sinned. The man was blind so that Jesus could heal him and show people God's power.
 
The story of Blind Bartimaeus reminds us that Jesus truly is the answer to our needs. He is the only one that can save us from our circumstances, from our choices, and set us on a new path. ... But one day Jesus showed up in his town, the Bible says that when this man heard that Jesus was there, he began to shout.
 
The blind man was brought to Jesus and begged for Jesus to touch him. The condition of the man was grave. Imagine living your life completely blind! Then you are told that there is hope of having sight again. The man is desperate for healing. Jesus touches him and finally he can see something. Put yourself in his place. He is better off than before - now he has sight. Don’t you think there was the temptation to take what he could get and run? He could have settled for second best - partial sight.

Jesus asks, "Who do you say I am?" Like the disciples the church is filled today with people who see only part of the whole. They are attracted to Christ for many reasons (healing from damaged emotions, intellectual assent of truth, traditional feelings) and they obtain sight. But just accepting Christ is only the first step. Like the blind man Jesus wants to heal us so that we can see the full truth. Take a moment and ask yourself: How am I blind?  What are my blind spots?  What do I choose to block out?  What do I not want to see or hear?  Then today when you realize that you are blocking a situation or feeling, open your mind and heart, and deliberately examine your blind spot for a few minutes.  This likely will feel uncomfortable; however, you may learn something about yourself that will help you become a more loving and accepting person.  

Blessings,

Luis+