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By FR ALFONSE NAZZARO
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me." And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more. Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." ...Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man replied, "Master, I want to see." Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.
In today's Gospel passage, we read about a blind man who believed in God. He didn't need to see God in order to believe in Him. He just needed to have faith.
Yesterday, I read in the Dallas Morning News an interesting article. Apparently more Norwegians believe in ghosts than in God. I'm not surprised. But I am amused. I find it absolutely amusing what people believe in when they don't believe in God!
More than eye can see. More than ear can hear. Bartimaeus believed in a lot of things. He believed in God and in the colors and descriptions of things he could not see. In other words, he believed there was more to life than in what his eyes could see. This is important, and a great lesson for all of us.
There is so much more than what our eyes can see and our ears can hear. Do you believe this?
Thankfully, scientists and engineers believe it. That's why they invent more and more powerful microscopes, telescopes and - why not - stethoscopes. They know there is more to this world than eye can see and ear can hear. They know we are very limited in our sensory perceptions. Are we not also a bit limited in our spiritual perceptions? And maybe - just maybe - our sensory perceptions inhibit a bit our spiritual perceptions!
After all, it was a blind man - not the crowd - who had enough faith in Jesus to ask him for a miracle.
There is much to learn from Bartimaeus: There is more to this world than what eye can see and ear can hear.
There are also a lot of people like Bartimaeus in this world.
I don't know if you read the incredible love story of a remarkable couple who stunned their closest friends when they decided to get married. Their friends said it could never work. But three years later, things couldn't be better for Ian and Larissa.
"In an age when marriages are breaking at the drop of a hat...it is endearing to see a love story as beautiful and as unique as this one.
College sweethearts, Ian and Larissa, like any other couple had eyes full of dreams. Dreams of getting married, having children and building their castle of love - together! But, something happened, something so tragic that changed their lives forever."
Ian had a horrific car accident and in the crash he hemorrhaged his brain. The once happy-go-lucky guy was left without the ability to speak, walk and care for himself.
Despite all this, Larissa's love did not change. She was confident in her love for Ian. Her friends were not so sure. They tried to convince their best friend not to marry him. He will be a burden to you for the rest of your life. You won't have a life. You won't be able to realize all your dreams. Why put yourself through all this? You don't owe him anything. You don't have to do this.
But Larissa knew there was more to Ian than eye could see. She knows this because she knows there is more to love than eye could ever see!
Their wedding was one of the most beautiful weddings friends and family had seen, even their skeptical friends agreed.
Over the years, Ian's condition has actually become better and is steadily improving.
Hate to say this, but this couple's skeptical friends were acting more like scientists than like friends. Scientists can be very boring. After all, most of them just report what they see. What you see is what you get, right? And when they discover something amazing...chances are it was by accident!
On the other hand, poets and artists are like welcomed friends. They are never boring. They see well beyond what eye can see; that is, well beyond the obvious! They go deep. They "see" deep. They see and/or hear things no one else can see and/or hear. And through their art, they give to us - the blind and deaf - a world full of amazing colors and sounds. They reveal the Spirit in all things.
Now if you find it amazing what poets and artists can reveal, then you should find it even more amazing at what God reveals through His Son.
"I find it absolutely amusing what people believe in when they don't believe in God!"
ReplyDeleteA quick search shows that between one third to one half of the US believes in ghosts, as well as 70% proclaiming to be Christian. I am pretty sure there is some overlap in those numbers. Christians believe in angels, demons, possession and exorcism, mystical powers of relics and prayers. Is this any more or less amusing or absurd than the belief in ghosts? Why or why not? Is there any direct correlation between people not believing in god and believing in the supernatural?
"I am sure there is some overlap in those numbers". In other words: "my prejudiced opinions must correlate to the point I'm trying to make." How unscientific of you!
ReplyDeleteYour point misses the point. How can you believe in ghosts and not believe in a supernatural being such as a god? These are rationalists at their best (or worst). They continue to contradict themselves solely because they will only believe what they see and cannot make inferences.