HOMILY OF WEDNESDAY OF THE 6TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Genesis 8:6-13,20-22, Mark 8:22-26
THEME: DIVINE SEPARATION
“He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village……..‘I can see people; they look like trees to me, but they are walking about.’ Then he laid his hands on the man’s eyes again and he saw clearly……..And Jesus sent him home, saying, ‘Do not even go into the village.”
God’s love for everyone is equal yet, he accords us varying degrees of treatment based on our peculiarities. In the second reading, the Lord took the blind man to the outskirts of the village. This was a commendable initiative considering he was just seeing for the first time in history. Jesus wouldn’t want his initial excitement greeted by the asymmetrical sight of the city. Hence, he took him to a place where the thrill of receiving his sight for the first time in his life wouldn’t take him unawares. The Lord wanted the impact to sink in gradually. We as well, need to discern situations that require special attention just like Jesus did to this man, so we don’t mete same treatment to people’s predicament, lest we create room for negative feedbacks.
Walking with God is a personal experience. We could see how Jesus disassociated the blind man from the village after he’s been healed. In order to be free, more often than not, there are certain associations or ties we must sever. We need to censure unhealthy affiliations with some people. There is a possibility certain unfavourable conditions awaited this man in that village which might lead to regression. The Lord had to separate him from there and also set him on the path of total freedom.
Interestingly, this blind man’s healing came in stages. This equally is an indication that the knowledge of God is step by step. Knowledge is not obtained in one sweep. Learning is a daily and steady venture when we allow the light of God to shine on our mind. We can’t have access and grasp the whole of God’s truth at once. This further means, that our conversion assumes a gradual and continuous process. The moral from the preceding assertion is a pointer that we mustn’t have the same expectation from everyone, because individuals act according to their degree of knowledge. It is impossible to grow beyond restricted knowledge.
Therefore, the expediency of the clarion call to exercise patience in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. God’s children are work in progress. God is not done with us yet. While we are patient with God and ourselves, we ought to be patient with others ditto. The process of maturity actually takes a while.
Let us allow Jesus hold us by the hand. He has special plans for us. He is really taking us somewhere. Let’s resist the urge of comparing ourselves with others.
May the Lord separate us from every element barring us from absolute liberty. And May the darkness around us give way to his glorious light. The Lord will definitely deliver us from darkness into his wonderful light. Amen.
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