Jesus taught in parables and signs—both of which were meant to make us re-think our prejudices and preconceptions; both of which were meant to cause conversion—a change of heart and mind.
In the story of the healing of the blind man (Mark 8:24) we are told that after Jesus healed him the man looked up and said, "I can see people, but they look like trees moving."
20/20 vision is not easy to come by; not even after our initial blindness has been dispelled by the Lord. We look, but fail to see clearly.
Jesus has to continue to ‘work on us’, to continue healing our sight.
2020 was an ironic reminder of just how blind we can still be. The fear of death—or rather the fear of losing control over life and death—closed churches, synagogues, mosques and temples, while keeping "essential services" like shops, banks and pubs open …
What does that show us about what we really believe? where our values and priorities have their deepest ground of meaning?
Has saving bodies and feeding stomachs become more important than saving souls and feeding spirits? Has "saving lives" been reduced to nothing more than prolonging physical existence, this mortal life, this life that will inevitably, and for all of us, end in death?
Our reason tells us that we are all going to die at some point. It also tells us that the sick and the elderly are more likely to die than the young and the healthy, but that there are no guarantees: anyone can die at any time.
Our faith, however, tells us that death is not the “final end” of life. Rather, Love Incarnate is the end and purpose of life, and that includes sickness and death.
In a time of sickness—which is more spiritual than biological—we need real, clear sighted faith more than anything else.
תגובות