Today we have a very timely and uplifting message: HOPE! The first reading from the Book of Genesis: the story of the ending of the flood and the new beginning for mankind – gives the clear message that there will always be the reality of hope no matter what evil things might stand in opposition to God and his will and ways. This passage makes it clear that God understands perfectly that "the desires of man's heart are evil from the start" (as a result of what happened that day in the Garden not so long before this) so he will never again "strike down all living beings" as he had done. Life will go one with "seedtime and harvest," "cold and heat," "summer and winter," "day and night." These will not cease and when you see these things – along with the rainbow - they can always be for you a sign of hope!
The gospel passage also gives us a message of hope. With the exercise of faith, spiritual blindness can be healed – faith itself can be increased – marvelous things can be accomplished. The reason that the man in the passage could not see things clearly immediately was not the Jesus made a mistake at first; no, it was because the faith of the man needed to be strengthened by practice and thus become effective through a "double-dose."
This means that we must "double-dose" our prayers of petition and praise sometimes in order for what we asked to be accomplished. Sometimes it takes not just faith to get the desired results; but strong faith.
Even if you have no one to pray for in particular – as was related in the first reading, there are still many people you can be praying for: for "the desires of man's heart are evil from the start!" This means that unless everyone constantly does his / her part to "reverse the curse" of evil – it would seem that the evil would be victorious by means of its subtle and cunning nature. We, with our faith – even our "double-doses" of faith - can pray for the conversion of mind and heart of those who are spiritually blind and subjects (even unbeknownst to them) of the evil one – especially those who hold responsibility over us in positions of authority!
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of all hearts, that we may all come to know what is the HOPE that belongs to his call: the call he makes to all – men, and women and children everywhere!
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