Dear Sisters and Brothers, may the Peace and Love of Christ Jesus be with you!!!.
In today's Gospel, we
see one of the most intriguing healing miracles in the ministry of Jesus. It is
unique, not just in the method Jesus employs, but in the gradual unfolding of
the miracle itself. This is the only recorded healing that happens in stages.
Why? What is the Lord teaching us through this?
Let us walk through the
scene with open hearts, allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate its message for
us today.
Jesus
Takes the Blind Man by the Hand – A Personal Encounter
The passage begins with
some people bringing a blind man to Jesus in Bethsaida a place that had already
witnessed many miracles but remained hardened in unbelief (cf. Matthew 11:21).
The fact that Jesus does not heal the man on the spot but instead takes him by
the hand and leads him outside the village is deeply symbolic.
What does this mean?
It is a reminder that
true healing, true transformation, often requires us to leave our comfort
zones, to step away from familiar surroundings and distractions so that we
can have a personal, intimate encounter with Christ. Sometimes, we must be
taken out of places of spiritual blindness before we can see the light of
truth.
Brothers and sisters,
are there places, relationships, or habits in our lives that keep us blind to
God's presence? The first step to healing is allowing Jesus to take us by the
hand and lead us where He wants us to go!
The
Spittle and the Hands – The Divine Touch
Then Jesus does
something unexpected: He spits on the man's eyes and lays His hands on
him. In the ancient world, saliva was sometimes seen as having healing
properties, but in Jesus' case, this action is more than a folk remedy, it
is the touch of God Himself!
The Greek verb haptomai,
meaning "to touch," is used frequently in the Gospels when Jesus
heals. But this is no ordinary touch; this is the Incarnate Word making contact
with human weakness. Jesus is physically engaging with this man’s woundedness!
How often do we want
healing, yet we resist the direct touch of Jesus? We want miracles on our
terms, without deep personal involvement. But Jesus does not heal from a
distance here, He gets close, He touches, He engages, He gives of Himself.
“Do
You See Anything?” : The Gradual Healing of Faith
After the first touch,
Jesus asks, "Do you see anything?". The man replies, "I see
people, but they look like trees walking."
This is extraordinary!
Jesus, the Son of God, could have healed the man instantly. But instead, He
allows the healing to unfold gradually.
Why?
Because this physical healing is a mirror of spiritual vision. Faith does not
always come instantly. Understanding the truth of God, recognizing His will,
seeing things as they truly are, it often comes in phases.
Many of us, even after
encountering Christ, still see blurred visions of the truth. We may believe,
but we are still attached to worldly perspectives, unable to see fully with the
eyes of faith.
Have you ever been in a
place where your faith was not yet fully clear? Where you believed in Jesus,
but your understanding of His ways was still incomplete?
Do not be discouraged!
This passage teaches us that even if our faith is still in progress, Jesus is not
finished with us yet!
The
Second Touch – Full Restoration
Jesus lays His hands on
the man again and this time, the man sees clearly "to see distinctly,
fully").
This moment is filled with
hope. It teaches us that Jesus is patient with us. He does not abandon us when
we struggle to understand. He stays with us, touches us again and again, until
our vision is fully restored.
Some of us might be in
the "first stage" of healing—seeing only shadows, struggling with
doubts. Others may be on the verge of full vision. But the key is to remain
with Jesus, to let Him complete the work He has begun in us!
“Do
Not Even Go Into the Village” : The Call
to Transformation
After healing the man,
Jesus gives a final command: “Do not even go into the village”
Why? Because Bethsaida
represents the old way of life, the place of spiritual blindness. When Christ
opens our eyes, we cannot return to the same life of unbelief. We must walk in
newness of life!
Brothers and sisters,
how often do we receive God's grace, only to go back to the same patterns, the
same sins, the same lukewarm faith? Jesus calls us forward, not backward! Once
we see, we are called to walk in the light.
This passage is a
profound invitation to a deeper faith:
- To allow Jesus to lead us out of spiritual blindness.
- To accept His personal touch, even when it is unconventional
or uncomfortable.
- To be patient in the process of spiritual growth.
- To seek clarity of vision, not remaining content with partial
sight.
- To move forward in faith, never returning to past blindness.
Christ is still at work
in us today. If you feel like your vision of faith is blurry, take heart, Jesus
is not finished with you yet! The same hands that touched the blind man in
Bethsaida are reaching out to you today.
Will you take His hand?
Will you allow Him to complete the healing He has begun in you?
May we all, by His
grace, move from partial sight to seeing clearly, from doubt to deep faith,
from spiritual blindness to walking in the light of Christ!
Amen! 🙏🔥
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