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The gospel passage today indicates an interesting
two-pronged process that we must undergo if we are to
comprehend anything. It is “becoming aware” of something, but then asking for
and applying the gift of “a fulness of understanding” about that “awareness.”
These of course take for granted that one is “awake and alert” in the first
place – and not just sleeping our way through the day – with “unenlightened”
robotic gestures and interactions.
Perhaps this was why Jesus
healed the blind man in the passage in two stages: the first, where the man
saw people walking and looking like “trees”, and the second part is when
“understanding and comprehension” kicked in – this of course could happen
at all because the man was “awake and alert” to the whole process. It was his
desire to see!
As we live our day today, let
us do so “awake and alert”, being as actively aware as we can – MOMENT BY MOMENT
– as to what is actually occurring both in us and around us – and then asking
the Spirit’s grace of understanding and a desire to put helping actions and
gestures into play – in a non-robotic – truly and genuinely interested way!
The first reading from the
letter of James ties in indirectly – being a hearer only of right and true
words – that come from God each day in a variety of ways – and NOT acting
on them is senseless and pointless – we may even save the energy of hearing
in the first place. James encourages us then to “wake up to the words of God”
as they come to us, “be aware of what we are perceiving,” and then “understanding”
that they were given for the benefit of others, and ourselves – to make the
society in which we live – a truly loving, caring, and compassionate one.
And so, may the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we may know what is
the hope that belongs to his call [to us – for service, for life!]
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