Wednesday, Sixth Week of Ordinary Time
Everyday is a classroom experience in the school of life!
Today's gospel is a presentation of a most unusual event in the life of Jesus. Following the days with the Gentiles northwest of Jesus' hometown, it became clear to Jesus that he needed to spend some private time with his disciples. They "boys" just did not get it: this Jesus is the Christ who has come to do the Father's will and to teach the people of God's goodness.
The three miracles that Jesus worked among the Gentiles seemed, when all was said and done, to be over the disciples heads. The curing of the Gentile woman's daughter, the healing of the man who was both deaf and afflicted with a speech impediment and the feeding of 4000 people with just a few loaves and fish. Yet when the disciples are on board their boat and with only one piece of bread, it was clear they wondered what they do with so little food. After these three miracles, wouldn't you think the disciples would understand? Unfortunately they did not!
So it was off to spirituality 101 with Jesus. The first lesson deal with another curing -- this time of a man who was blind. It took two actions by Jesus to bring compete healing to the blind man. This was a mirror to the disciples. It would take time for them to "get it."
The message for us is that our understanding of who Jesus is in our lives most likely will not happen with a "poof." It takes time for us to learn even though we have the Scriptures and the writings of many saints and the lives of holy men and women. Like the disciples, our learning is a gradual process.
The upcoming Lenten season will make available to each of us the opportunity to learn more about Jesus and his relationship to us and our closeness to him. Plan ahead. Don't wait until Shrove Tuesday or Ash Wednesday to consider what your program will be for Lent: What do I want out of Lent this year? What am I going to do to help me strengthen my faith? Lent will have a much deeper meaning for anyone who plans ahead. Recall an earlier posting: Pope Benedict XVI strongly encouraged us in his Easter message to consider fasting during this Lenten season. Fasting is, without any doubt, a good way to build a strong relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
