15 February, 2023 | Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

 Gospel Mk 8: 22-26

When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida,

people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.

He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.

Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked,

“Do you see anything?”

Looking up the man replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.”

Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly;

his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly.

Then he sent him home and said, “Do not even go into the village.”

Reflection: 

Jesus is beginning to tell his disciples that he will soon be put to death, but the disciples cannot take in this news. The community came together begging for help for someone in need. Jesus, however, led the man out of the village, away from the crowd to heal him. Jesus took the blind man and, having healed him, told him not to return there. In this personal encounter, between Jesus and the blind man away from the crowd, Jesus healed the man but the healing did not happen instantly. It took time for the man’s sight to be restored and to see clearly again. Mark’s stories suggest that disciples may only slowly come to see that Jesus cannot be understood or appreciated apart from the mystery of his Cross. 

Activity: 

Take some time to notice how your prayer leads you to appreciate God's light and consolation. Ask for the faith and hope you need to continue to trust in God's goodness.