JAMES 1: 19 – 27

Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing. If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 15: 2 – 4ab, 5 (R.) 1b

R/. Who shall dwell on your holy mountain, O Lord?

Whoever walks without fault;
who does what is just,
and speaks the truth from his heart.
Who does not slander with his tongue. R/.

Who does no wrong to a neighbour,
who casts no slur on a friend,
who looks with scorn on the wicked,
but honours those who fear the Low. R/.

Who lends no money at interest,
and accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a one shall never be shaken. R/.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION.
Ephesians 1: 17 – 18.

Alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we might know what is hope to which he has called us.
Alleluia

GOSPEL
MARK 8: 22 – 26

At that time: Jesus and the disciples came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man, and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men; but they look like trees, walking.” Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and saw everything clearly. And he sent him away to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

The Gospel of the Lord.
REFLECTION: One Step at a Time
February 16, 2022

Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on him 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. (Mark 8:23-25)

This story is very unique for one reason. It’s unique because the first time Jesus tried to cure the blind man it only worked half way. He could see after Jesus’ first attempt to heal his blindness, but what he saw were “people looking like trees and walking.” It took Jesus laying His hands on the man’s eyes a second time for him to be fully cured. Why is that?

Consistently, throughout the Gospels, when Jesus cures someone it is done as a result of the faith they have and manifest. It’s not that Jesus couldn’t heal someone without faith; rather, it’s that this is what He chose to do. He made healing contingent upon complete faith.

In this miracle story, it appears that the blind man has some faith, but not much. As a result, Jesus does something very telling. He allows the man to be healed only part way so as to illustrate his lack of faith. But He also reveals to us that a little faith can lead to more faith. The man, once he could see a little, clearly began to believe some more. And once his faith grew, Jesus laid hands on him again, bringing his healing to completion.

What a great illustration for us! Some people may have complete faith in God in all things. If that is you, then you are truly blessed. But this passage is especially for those who have faith, but struggle nonetheless. To those who fall into this category, Jesus is offering much hope. The action of healing the man twice in a row tells us that Jesus is patient and merciful and will take the little we have, and the little we offer, and use it the best He can. He will work to transform our little faith so that we can then take another step closer to God and grow in faith.

The same could be said of sin. Sometimes we have imperfect sorrow for sin and sometimes we sin and have no sorrow for it, even though we know it’s wrong. If that is you, then try to take at least one small step forward toward the healing of forgiveness. Try, at very least, to desire that you will grow in a desire to be sorry. That may be the bare minimum, but Jesus will work with it.

Reflect, today, upon this blind man. Ponder this twofold healing and twofold conversion the man undergoes. Know that this is you and that Jesus wants to take you one step further in your faith and in your repentance of sin.https://masvingomirror.com

PRAYER:
Lord of mercy, I thank You for the incredible patience You have with me. I know my faith in You is weak and must increase. I know my sorrow for my sins must also increase. Please do take the little faith I have and the little sorrow I have for my sins and use them to draw me one step closer to You and Your merciful heart. Jesus, I trust in You.